The hottest pepper in the world is officially Pepper X. This green-yellow pepper was bred by Ed Currie (the same man behind the Carolina Reaper) and reaches an average of 2,693,000 SHU. That is hotter than the pepper spray used by the police. Eating it causes hours of paralyzing cramps.
The world of chili-heads is constantly in motion. Growers cross-breed plants to achieve increasingly extreme results. Capsaicin, the substance that causes the heat, makes your brain think your mouth is literally on fire.
Here are the 10 most powerful peppers you should (not) try.
1. Pepper X (2,693,000 SHU)
After years of rumors, it was finally confirmed in October 2023 that Pepper X is the new king. Ed Currie worked on this pepper for ten years. It looks innocent with its greenish-yellow color, but appearances are deceiving. While other peppers have their heat concentrated in the placental tissue, the capsaicin in Pepper X is present throughout the entire fruit wall. The heat builds slowly and lingers for hours.
2. Dragon’s Breath (2,480,000 SHU – Unofficial)
This pepper hails from Wales and was originally developed in collaboration with a university to be used as a natural anesthetic for people allergic to normal anesthesia. The oil is so strong it can numb the skin. Although it has never been officially crowned by Guinness, it is generally believed to be one of the few peppers that comes close to Pepper X.
3. Carolina Reaper (1,641,183 SHU)
For years, this was the undisputed number one. You recognize it immediately by its bright red color, bumpy skin, and the mean scorpion tail at the bottom. The first bite tastes surprisingly sweet and fruity, but after a few seconds, the heat hits like a hammer. It remains the most popular superhot for sauces and challenges.
4. 7 Pot Douglah (1,853,936 SHU)
A rare sight in the chili world because it is not red, but chocolate brown. Do not be fooled by the name Chocolate 7 Pot; it does not taste like chocolate. The name 7 Pot comes from the legend that one such pepper is enough to spice up seven large pots of stew. Connoisseurs say this is one of the tastiest superhots, if you ignore the pain.
5. Trinidad Scorpion Butch T (1,463,700 SHU)
This pepper was briefly the world record holder in 2011. It is named after Butch Taylor, the man who distributed the seeds. The pepper is small and looks like a bulb with a tiny point. The burn of this pepper is notorious because it comes on extremely fast; you do not have to wait for the pain, it is there immediately.
6. Naga Viper (1,349,000 SHU)
A unique hybrid of three different giants: the Ghost Pepper, the Naga Morich, and the Trinidad Scorpion. It was bred in England. Because it is an unstable hybrid, the shape and heat can vary per plant. The heat of the Naga Viper is known for settling mainly in the back of the throat and slowly creeping into the nasal cavities.
7. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (1,200,000+ SHU)
This pepper comes from the island of Trinidad and is roughly the size of a golf ball. What makes this pepper treacherous is the “creeper heat.” When you take a bite, you think for the first minute: “Oh, this isn’t so bad.” But the heat keeps building and only reaches its painful peak after 5 to 10 minutes.
8. 7 Pot Brain Strain (1,350,000 SHU)
This pepper owes its name to its appearance: it is so bumpy and wrinkled that it resembles a human brain. It is closely related to the Moruga Scorpion. Growers love this variant because it is always extremely hot and has a smoky flavor, making it popular in the production of hot powders.
9. Ghost Pepper / Bhut Jolokia (1,041,427 SHU)
The grandfather of the superhots. This was the first pepper to ever break the 1 million Scoville mark and shock the world. It comes from India, where it is used to keep elephants at a distance (by rubbing the powder on fences). Compared to Pepper X, it now seems mild, but make no mistake: for a normal person, this is still unbearable.
10. Red Savina Habanero (577,000 SHU)
We close the list with the pepper that was king in the 90s. The Red Savina is a specifically bred version of the regular Habanero. It is only 500,000 SHU, making it the perfect gatekeeper. If you can eat this pepper raw without crying, you are ready to take the leap to the ghosts and scorpions above.