Scoville Units: 30,000 to 50,000

The Cayenne is a red, hot chili pepper used to flavor dishes, and for medicinal purposes. Named for the city of Cayenne in French Guiana, it is a cultivar of Capsicum annuum related to bell peppers, jalapeños, and others.

The fruits are generally dried and ground, or pulped and baked into cakes, which are then ground and sifted to make the powdered spice known as cayenne pepper.

Cayenne is used in cooking spicy hot dishes, as a powder or in its whole form or in a thin, vinegar-based sauce. It is generally rated at 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Units.

These are used in pepper spray by police, military, and security personnel to subdue protesters, violent suspects, and prisoners. It is also used by civilians to subdue assailants and animals such as dogs, cats and bears.