Hottest chilli pepper

The hottest chilli pepper is Smokin Ed's 'Pepper X', grown by Ed Currie of PuckerButt Pepper Company (USA), which rates at an average of 2,693,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), according to tests conducted by Winthrop University in South Carolina, USA, on 23 August 2023.

History and Origin

Ed, who also created the previous hottest chilli pepper - the Carolina Reaper - grew Pepper X on his farm in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

He spent 10 years developing the pepper to be even hotter than his previous creation, which delivered an average of 1,569,300 SHU.

He did it by cross breeding it with some of his other hottest peppers.

Ed unveiled Pepper X on an episode of hit YouTube series Hot Ones.

Watch it here:

Characteristics and Scoville Heat Units (SHU) 

For those who haven’t tasted it, Pepper X’s whopping SHU of 2,693,000 is perhaps best imagined by comparing it to a more common jalapeño pepper, which registers at around 3,000 to 8,000 SHU.

That means Pepper X is at least 336 times hotter than a jalapeño. There are reports, however, that a Pepper X can reach up to 1,077 times hotter than the mildest jalapeño.

The Scoville scale is used to measure the spiciness of chilli peppers and is based on the concentration of capsaicin – the active component of chilli peppers that creates a burning sensation when it comes into contact with human tissue.

A common misconception is that the heat of chilli peppers depends on the seeds inside of them, however the capsaicin is actually contained in the placenta, which is the tissue that holds the seeds.

As Pepper X has lots of curves and ridges, there’s more room inside for the placenta to grow and become spicier.

The genetic make-up of Pepper X is not public knowledge and Ed does not sell the seeds to allow others to grow their own.

@guinnessworldrecords Hottest chilli pepper 🌶️🔥 2,693,000 Scoville Heat Units - Pepper X by Puckerbutt Pepper Company #spicy #pepperx #chili #guinnessworldrecords ♬ original sound - Guinness World Records

As well as being extremely spicy, it’s also said that Pepper X has a sweet, fruity, floral flavour.

It’s a bulbous shape and its colour is a sort-of ombre of different shades of green.

PepperScale describes Pepper X’s appearance as “evil” and says it is “befitting for the beyond intense heat they hold”.

Health Benefits and Risks 

Pepper X is not for the faint of heart. It’s so hot that anyone planning to consume it should do so with caution.

The level of heat it gives off is said to be comparable to pepper sprays, meaning you definitely wouldn’t want to rub your eyes after handling it.

Handling a pepper like this does carry a risk of chilli burn, also known as Hunan hand syndrome.

It’s a very painful – but thankfully, temporary – condition that can afflict those who handle, prepare or cook with chilli peppers.

It’s caused by the capsaicin coming into contact with the skin and results in a sensation of intense burning pain.

The pain is particularly bad in the finger tips, as they have a high density of nerve endings.

Treatments include soaking the fingers in milk or vinegar.

Aside from these dangers, eating hot chilli peppers is said to have many health benefits too.

According to WebMD, studies have shown that the capsaicin in hot peppers can reduce inflammation and decrease a person’s chances of getting heart disease.

It’s also believed they can help with weight loss as capsaicin reduces the appetite and can even increase metabolism.

Culinary Uses 

Ed sells a number of Pepper X products on his website – hot sauces that are sure to pack a punch when added to any meal.

Because Ed doesn’t sell the seeds and fresh peppers are only available through his website between August and October, cooking with it is tricky.

And quite frankly, it’s not advisable for people who don’t know a lot about handling peppers like this to cook with them anyway.

A lot of safety measures need to be put in place while handling Pepper X, so it’s best left to the experts.

Top 5 Hottest Chilli Peppers in the World 

According to Pepperhead, the five hottest chilli peppers the world has to offer are as follows:

1. Pepper X – 2,693,000 SHU
2. Carolina Reaper – 2,200,000 SHU
3. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion – 2,009,231 SHU
4. 7 Pot Douglah – 1,853,936 SHU
5. 7 Pot Primo – 1,469,000 SHU

This list was updated for 2024 and accurate at the time of writing to the best of our knowledge, but the world of hot pepper creation is a competitive one.

Pepper experts around the world - like Ed - are constantly working to up their spice game and break records with their creations.