If you like to turn up the heat with your meals by adding the spiciest of peppers that you can find, then this is just the post for someone of your daring appetite.
Who Holds the World Record?
These days, it’s a big deal in having to create the hottest chili pepper in the world and many growers are continuously working to create the next world record holder even as of this writing. Do you want to try one?
SHU: Official Measurement
There was once a time when the “Mighty Habanero” was considered one of the hottest peppers in the world. Now, it hardly holds a candle to some of the super hybrids that we’re have listed in this article. The official measuring unit of spiciness is the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) capsaicin concentration scale. Now instead of hundreds or thousands on the SHU scale, the chilies of today are clocking it in the millions.
Are there any Downsides?
The only downside to this for some is the intolerable burning sensation and seating pain and agony that your mouth has to endure. For persistent food lovers, however, especially those who love hot sauce, it is merely another entry into their culinary adventure scrapbook. One thing to add before we get started is that you won’t find any bell peppers or jalapenos on this list, so sorry for those who are fans of these in advance.
What are the Hottest Peppers in the World?
For now, these are the hottest peppers in the world:
Carolina Reaper 2,200,000 SHU
Starting this list of the hottest peppers you can find is the grand poobah of all chili peppers which is none other than Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper. Originally named the “HP22BNH7” and holding the Guinness World Record since August 2013, this pepper is bred by cultivator Ed Currie, who runs the PuckerButt Pepper Company in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion 2,009,231 SHU
Back in February 2012, the New Mexico State University’s Chili Pepper Institute recognized the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion as the hottest chili pepper in the world at the time. Just because it’s second place don’t take it for granted. One bite of this little monster and the heat never stops.
7 Pot Douglah 1,853,936 SHU
Also known as the 7 Pod Douglah or Chocolate 7 Pod, this bad boy is both rare and the hottest pepper in the world that isn’t red. It is said that one pod can spice up to seven pots of stew, which now you know how it got its name. It’s characterized by a dark brown or deep purple skin with numerous ‘pimples’ on its surface. It starts out green and then matures to the dark color that’s unique to Douglah.
What are the Hottest Peppers in the World?
7 Pot Primo 1,473,480 SHU
The 7 Pot Primo gets its name from Troy Primeaux (nicknamed Primo), a horticulturist from Louisiana. At around 2005 he began crossing the Trinidad 7 Pot and Naga Morich and has since then, grown them out for eight generations. The pepper can get very lumpy and distorted and can also grow a little tail. As with other 7 Pots, it has a fruity to floral flavor and of course, is extremely hot. This pepper has also been orange and yellow varieties.
Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T” 1,463,700 SHU
Previous holder of the Guinness World Record for hottest pepper in the world, the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T was propagated by Butch Taylor of Zydeco Hot Sauce and grown by the Chilli Factory. It’s also aptly named due to the tip of the pepper resembling a scorpion’s stinger.
Komodo Dragon 1,400,000 SHU
The Komodo Dragon is the latest variation on the 7 Pot pepper. It’s grown by the largest chili producer in the UK, Salvatore Genovese who in 2012, also gave us the Bedfordshire Super Naga.
Salvatore pens owns a seven-acre farm in Blunham, Bedfordshire where he, even as of today, spends his day trying to create even hotter varieties.
Naga Viper 1,382,118 SHU
The Naga Viper is both extremely rare and incredibly spicy. It was created by an English chili farmer by the name of Gerald Fowler who owns the Chili Pepper Company based in Cark, Cumbria. It briefly held the Guinness World Record for “World’s Hottest Chili” in 2011. It’s also an unstable three-way hybrid that was produced from the Naga Morich, the Bhut Jolokia and the Trinidad Scorpion.
7 Pot Brain Strain 1,350,000 SHU
If the name didn’t already give it away, this pepper is a real brain strainer. The 7 Pot Brain Strain was developed using selective breeding by saving pods from plants that would produce certain desired traits.
In 2010, David Cappiello, who is a well-known chili grower and spicy hobbyist from North Carolina, acquired 7 Pot seeds from another grower in Trinidad. This pepper is said to be closely related to the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.
7 Pot Barrackpore 1,300,000 SHU
This is another 7 Pot variety that comes from the region of Barrackpore from the Caribbean island of Trinidad.
It has a lengthy pod structure that is sometimes similar to the Bhut Jolokia. The Pot Barrakpore bears somewhat larger and more wrinkled pods as compared to the regular 7 Pot. It also has a nice fruity flavor like the other 7 Pots and is a heavy producer.
7 Pot Jonah 1,200,000 SHU
Last but not least on our list of the hottest peppers is the 7 Pot Jonah.
The 7 Pot Jonah is a large plant that’s capable of producing larger and rounder Trinidad 7 Pot strain pods. It boasts a fruitier flavor than the regular 7 Pot and for that matter, a spicier taste.
The 7 Pot Jonah can grow to become larger than a golf ball and can weigh in about half an ounce. The pepper can mature from light green to red. And, it’s sure spicy!
The Hottest Pepper Challenge
Note about Dragon’s Breath and Pepper X
Both Dragon’s Breath and Pepper X claim to be hotter than the current champ Carolina Reaper. The Dragon’s Breath was tested to be about 2.48 million SHU and Pepper X was 3.18 million. However, as of this writing, there is no official test lab result or word from the Guinness Book of World Records to back up their claim.
Have your Say about the Hottest Peppers in the World
Have you tried any of the hot peppers on this list? Leave a comment below and tell us how it went! Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
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