Carolina Reaper reigned as the world’s hottest chili pepper for a decade, but now Pepper X has dethroned it.
Guinness World Records officially acknowledged Pepper X as the world’s spiciest chili pepper on August 23, 2023, with a scorching measurement of 2.69 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). SHU is a scale used to quantify the spiciness of peppers based on the concentration of capsaicinoids, which are chemical irritants responsible for the heat in peppers.
Capsaicin activates nerve receptors in mammals, causing a burning sensation and inflammatory response. Birds lack these receptors, allowing them to eat spicy peppers without feeling the burn and aiding in seed dispersal.
Pepper X Surpassed Carolina Reaper by 1 Million SHU
This achievement surpassed the former record of 1.64 million SHU, which was also held by the Carolina Reaper, another creation of Ed Currie.
Pepper X is a hybrid chili created by crossing a ghost pepper and a habanero
It’s a short, greenish-yellow pepper, measuring roughly 1 inch in length and 1/2 inch in diameter. This chili packs an incredibly high level of heat. It can lead to severe burns on the skin and mucous membranes when consumed or handled.
Pepper X isn’t currently sold commercially, but there are plans to make it available to the public. It’s intended for making hot sauces and condiments, not for raw consumption. It needs to be handled with care due to its extreme spiciness.
