by Matt Bray
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The Dragon’s Breath pepper and the Carolina Reaper both sit easily among the world’s hottest peppers. These are two nasty-hot chilies with rockstar names that draw people to them. So, how do their heat levels compare? How easy are each to find fresh? Which is the most popular? Let’s dive into the similarities and differences between these two chilies.
Table of Contents
- Which is hotter, the Dragon’s Breath or the Carolina Reaper?
- Which is the most popular?
- How does each pepper taste?
- How do their shapes and colors differ?
- Where did each originate?
- Which is easier to find fresh?
- Which is used most often in commercial products?
Which is hotter, the Dragon’s Breath or the Carolina Reaper?
The Dragon’s breath chili’s heat level has been reported to be a scorching 2.48 million Scoville heat units (SHU), which would make it hotter than the Carolina Reaper, which offers 2.2 million SHU at its peak (a range from 1.4 million to 2.2 million SHU). The difference between the two is that the Dragon’s Breath rating is unofficial, while the Carolina Reaper has been confirmed as the world’s hottest pepper.
Even if the Dragon’s Breath Scoville rating were to be confirmed, it still might not be at the top since Pepper X’s Scoville rating — also unconfirmed — is even higher, at 3.18 million SHU.
Why unconfirmed when they could be hotter than a Reaper? The Dragon’s Breath line, like Pepper X, is currently considered unstable, meaning its looks, taste, and heat can vary wildly, and they can be difficult to germinate. It can take generations of chilies to reach stability, and some never do.
Which is the most popular?
Let’s compare these two super-hot chilies by how often they are searched on Google. Which is the more popular of the two? It’s the Carolina Reaper, and it’s not close. The Carolina Reaper is searched roughly 396,000 times globally each month, while the Dragon’s Breath is searched roughly 16,000 times.
It’s a large gap, but that’s not to say the Dragon’s Breath isn’t popular. 16,000 searches monthly is still rather high compared to many other chilies. It just so happens that the Carolina Reaper is the most searched chili currently by a wide margin compared to any other chili.
How does each pepper taste?
Few have tried the Dragon’s Breath pepper but early reports suggest that it is somewhat fruity along with its extreme heat. The Carolina Reaper has a reputation for being one of the more flavorful super-hot peppers, with plenty of fruitiness (if you can get beyond the heat), and some even detect notes of chocolate and cinnamon.
How do their shapes and colors differ?
The Dragon’s Breath chili is tiny, measuring only 1/2 inch long. Aside from its size, it looks a lot like the Carolina Reaper in that it has the same red color and wrinkled and bumpy exterior. The resemblance has led to speculation that the pepper is just an overwintered Carolina Reaper with tinier fruits. The Carolina Reaper is between one and three inches long and one to two inches across.
Where did each originate?
The Dragon’s Breath pepper was the product of a collaboration between Neal Price, NPK Technology and Nottingham Trent University. The plant would later be cultivated in Wales by a pepper breeder named Mike Smith. Because both Price and Smith were Welsh, they named the pepper after the Welsh dragon. The pepper was developed for use as a topical anesthetic for people who are unable to tolerate other kinds of anesthesia.
The Carolina Reaper was invented by the pepper Breeder Ed Currie who says that he invented the super-hot chili by accident. The reaper was named the world’s hottest pepper in 2017 by the Guinness Book of World Records. The Carolina Reaper’s parent plants are either the Red Savina habanero or the La Soufriere pepper (referenced as a Caribbean habanero) — depending on which source you want to believe — and the ghost pepper.
Because the La Soufriere pepper only seems to ever get mentioned when talking about the Carolina Reaper and does not seem to exist as a pepper variety, it is most likely a veiled reference to the Red Savina. The Red Savina was the world’s hottest pepper for 12 years and was succeeded by the Reaper’s other parent, the ghost pepper.
Which is easier to find fresh?
You most likely won’t be able to find Dragon’s Breath or Carolina Reapers fresh in your local grocery stores. The Dragon’s Breath does not appear to be sold fresh anywhere. The Carolina Reaper may show up at a produce stand or farmer’s market, but it won’t be easy to find either.
Which is used most often in commercial products?
Aside from seeds for sale, Dragon’s Breath Peppers do not appear to be available in any commercial preparations. Carolina Reapers are easily found dried and in powder form online. And they are used in multiple commercial products, including sauces, powders, and jerky. Challenge chips, pickles, and salsas are also made with Reaper chilies. It’s one of the most popular chilies to use commercially because of its high popularity and very marketable name.
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If you're brave enough for the extreme heat and have a green thumb, you can try growing Dragon's Breath chilies at home. These seeds are from Sherwood Seeds.
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12/17/2023 11:53 am GMT
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In dried form, these Carolina Reapers will last quite a long time. But just as using fresh, take care in the handling. The extreme heat remains the same. This pack is from Wicked Tickle.
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12/17/2023 09:13 am GMT
UPDATE NOTICE: This post was updated on May 9, 2022 to include new content.
The Dragon’s Breath pepper and the Carolina Reaper—two powerhouses in the world of super-hot chilies! Let's dive into the concepts embedded in the article by Matt Bray:
Heat Levels:
The Dragon’s Breath allegedly hits a blistering 2.48 million Scoville heat units (SHU), potentially surpassing the Carolina Reaper, which typically ranges from 1.4 million to 2.2 million SHU. However, the Carolina Reaper holds the confirmed title of the world’s hottest pepper.
Popularity:
Google searches strongly favor the Carolina Reaper, with approximately 396,000 monthly searches globally compared to the Dragon’s Breath at around 16,000 searches.
Taste Profile:
While the Dragon’s Breath's taste profile is less explored, early reports suggest a fruity essence behind its extreme heat. In contrast, the Carolina Reaper is known for its fruitiness alongside notes of chocolate and cinnamon, despite its fiery nature.
Physical Characteristics:
The Dragon’s Breath is notably smaller, measuring just 1/2 inch long, resembling the red, wrinkled, bumpy appearance of the Carolina Reaper, which ranges from one to three inches in length and one to two inches in width.
Origins:
The Dragon’s Breath emerged from a collaboration between NPK Technology, Nottingham Trent University, and later cultivation in Wales. It was initially developed as a topical anesthetic. The Carolina Reaper was accidentally created by pepper breeder Ed Currie and earned the title of the world’s hottest pepper in 2017.
Fresh Availability:
Neither pepper is commonly found fresh in local stores, with the Dragon’s Breath seemingly unavailable in fresh markets. The Carolina Reaper might occasionally appear in farmer’s markets but is still challenging to find fresh.
Commercial Use:
Carolina Reapers dominate the commercial market, present in various forms like dried, powdered, and incorporated into sauces, jerky, chips, pickles, and salsas. In contrast, Dragon’s Breath peppers seem limited to seed sales without notable commercial product use.
The Carolina Reaper's marketability, supported by its popularity and confirmed status as the world’s hottest pepper, makes it a sought-after ingredient in various commercial products.
The article offers a comprehensive comparison of these spicy champions, touching on their heat, popularity, taste, appearance, origins, availability, and commercial usage. Both peppers possess unique characteristics that cater to enthusiasts seeking an intense culinary experience.
