After all, what is the hottest pepper in the world? This is the question that fans of this plant’s heat often ask. Although chilli has its reputation, there are many other types that deserve attention.
What defines this is the Scoville Scale: it measures the degree of heat or spiciness of this food or products made from it, such as sauces and seasonings, based on the Measurement in Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
The person responsible for creating this classification was pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912. The test involved diluting pepper extracts in water and sugar until the burning sensation was no longer detected by tasters.
Despite having been improved, this scale is still widely recognized as a standard for evaluating the pungency of peppers.
Based on the SHU quantity, discover the 10 hottest peppers in the world.
Carolina Reaper (2,200,000 SHU)
The Carolina Reaper is the hottest pepper in the world, having reached an average of 1.64 million SHU in tests, but is capable of reaching up to 2.2 million. It was developed by Ed Currie, in South Carolina (USA), director of the Pucker Butt Pepper Company.
It is the result of crossing Habanero and Naga Bhut Jolokia. Although red is the best known, there are also yellow and chocolate. To give you an idea, it is about 200 times spicier than a Jalapeño.
The degree of heat of the Carolina Reaper pepper made it enter the Guinness World Records in 2017 — based on tests conducted by Winthrop University in South Carolina, USA, throughout this year.
The name is a reference to the state in which it was created and “reaper” means “reaper”, as a reference to the “personification of death” and its stinger-shaped tail — in addition to its enormous stinginess.
It is so strong that even handling it requires the use of gloves.
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (2,009,231 SHU)
The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is one of the hottest peppers in the world with a degree of 2,0009,231 SHU. It is of the capsicum chinense species and is considered rare.
The origin, as the name suggests, is from Trinidad and Tobago, more specifically from the city of Moruga. It is generally small and has an appearance that varies from red to orange. It has an irregular shape and often has roughness on the surface.
Just putting it on your tongue is enough to make your mouth itch. It is 200 times hotter than the famous finger pepper.
7 Pot Douglah (1,853,936 SHU)
7 Pot Douglah or Chocolate 7 Pot is known for its intense spiciness and can reach up to 1,853,396 units on the Scoville Scale, although some examples can be even spicier.
Its heat rivals many of the hottest peppers in the world. The term “Douglah” is a reference to the family name of one of the original growers.
It is another originating from the Caribbean, being created in the country Trinidad and Tobago, where many of the hottest peppers in the world are found.
It is one of the hottest peppers in the world that is not red: it varies in appearance from dark brown to chocolate, hence the nickname “Chocolate 7 Pot”.
7 Primo Pot (1,469,000 SHU)
Another of the many varieties of “7 Pot” peppers is Primo, which can reach up to 1,469,000 SHU. It was developed by a breeder called Troy Primeaux, from Louisiana, in the United States.
This pepper has a distinctive shape, with an appearance that resembles a bell. It is generally small, with a wrinkled texture and a color that varies from red to yellow, depending on the stage of ripeness.
Some pepper growers have tried to replicate its appearance to have a long stinger.
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T (1,463,700 SHU)
Very close to 7 Pot Prime, Trinidad Scorpion Butch reaches the Scoville scale with 1,463,700 units. It is also a variety of the Capsicum chinense species, from the country that gives it its first name.
The appearance of the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T is characterized by its pointed and rough shape, with a color that varies from red to orange when ripe.
Its sting at the tip and the stinging sensation give it the title “scorpion” in the name, in addition to being a tribute to its creator, Butch Taylor, also originally from the country. Pepper exposure to the eye can cause temporary blindness.
Naga Viper (1,349,000 SHU)
The Naga Viper, which can reach up to 1,349,000 SHU, is a rare pepper originating in the United Kingdom. The person responsible for its creation was the British Gerald Fowler, from Naga Morich, Bhut Jolokia and Trinidad Scorpion.
It held the title of hottest pepper in the world for a short period of time (in 2011, in Guinness World Records), as it was surpassed by other varieties.
It has an appearance reminiscent of other peppers in the Naga family, with an elongated shape and roughness on the surface. The color varies from red to orange when ripe.
Bhut Jolokia (1,041,427 SHU)
Bhut Jolokia, which was also called Ghost Pepper, has Indian origin and can have a heat level of up to 1,041,427 SHU.
It was the first pepper to have 1 million on the scientifically tested scale and has already had its place in the Guinness World Records. It’s 400 times hotter than Tabasco.
Its name is a reference to the fact that its heat seems to manifest itself invisibly. Bhut Jolokia has a characteristic appearance, with a conical shape and a wrinkled texture.
When you bite into it, the pepper breaks open and releases capsaicin, which stimulates heat and pain receptors distributed throughout the tongue. It is as if the tongue had suffered a burn to the brain, triggering hot flashes and sweating.
7 Pot Barrackpore (1,000,000 SHU)
Another variation of 7 Pot that also has a high SHU is Barrackpore, with 1,000,000 on the Scoville scale. Its spiciness may vary depending on factors such as the soil and the climate in which it is grown.
It gets its name from the Barrackpore region of Trinidad and Tobago where it is grown, an area also famous for producing extremely hot peppers.
It has a similar appearance to other peppers in the family: it generally has an elongated shape and roughness on the surface. Its color can vary from green to red when ripe.
7 Pot Red (1,000,000 SHU)
Closing the family, 7 Pot Red is another one with hot pepper, which can reach 1,000,000 SHU, but is very rare to find.
It can be red as well as orange and chocolate. The name comes from its ability to heat seven pots of stew in a short time.
Red Habanero Savina (500,000 SHU)
Red Habanero Savina has 500,000 on the Scoville scale, and is of the capsicum chinense species.
The person responsible for its creation was Frank Garcia, from California. It was selected to obtain spicier, more acidic and larger fruits.
For many years, it was considered the strongest pepper of all — between 1994 and 2006 — but was later overtaken by Bhut Jolokia
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
