by Matt Bray
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The title of “hottest pepper in the world” is something that’s challenged more often than you may expect. Every year hot pepper cultivators find new ways to hybridize chilies and utilize their environment (soil, water, sunlight) to create peppers that will compete for the top position. Below we break out the current hottest peppers based on potential peak heat on the Scoville scale. See our full hot pepper list here to see our heat rankings of 150+ chilies.
Table of Contents
- Pepper X
- Carolina Reaper
- Komodo Dragon
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion
- 7 Pot Douglah
- Dorset Naga
- Naga Morich
- Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T”
- Naga Viper
- 7 Pot Brain Strain
- 7 Pot Barrackpore
- 7 Pot Primo
- Infinity Pepper
- Trinidad 7 Pot
- 7 Pot Jonah
- Ghost Pepper
- Honorable mentions
- Death Spiral Pepper
- Apocalypse Scorpion Pepper
- Dragon’s Breath Pepper
- Apollo Pepper
- Handling the world’s hottest peppers
- Must-read related posts
Pepper X
SHU: 2,693,000
The current Guinness “hottest pepper” world record holder
The Puckerbutt Pepper Company – the makers of the well known Carolina Reaper – have another trick up their super-hot sleeve. Pepper X can be nearly double the heat of the mildest Reaper and a hefty 493,000 Scoville heat units hotter than the Reaper at its max spiciness. This is crazy heat. And as of October 2023, the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledges it too, naming the Pepper X officially as the hottest pepper in the world.
Carolina Reaper
SHU: 1,400,000 to 2,200,000
For nearly a decade (November 2013 to October 2023), theaptly namedCarolina Reaper has been the Guinness Book of World Record’s official hottest pepper in the world. It has insane heat – at its max, it blows past many pepper sprays. The Carolina Reaper has a fruitiness to it, and the PuckerButt Pepper Company (founded by Ed Currie, the grower behind the Reaper) has grown it to be a super-hot that doesn’t skimp on overall flavor. If you can handle the heat, and that’s a big ‘if’!
Komodo Dragon
SHU: 1,400,000 to 2,200,000
With comparable heat to our #1 hottest pepper in the world, the Komodo Dragon has face-melting spiciness. There’s a sneaky sweet heat to this super-hot pepper – like the ghost pepper it’s a slow burn that doesn’t hit you upon the first bite, but builds over time into a firestorm. Interestingly, the Komodo Dragon chili is unique because it found its way into a major supermarket’s store shelves. It’s sold at TESCO stores in the United Kingdom.
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion
SHU: 1,200,000 to 2,000,000
Sporting a killer name, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is from Trinidad and Tobago and gets its moniker from its scorpion-like “tail” that looks like the stinger of, you guessed it, a scorpion.Its heat at its potential peak hits 2 million Scoville heat units, which places the Moruga Scorpion among the peppers that can be hotter than many pepper sprays. The Trinidad Scorpion chocolate (the brown sub-variety) falls also within these Scoville heat boundaries as well.
7 Pot Douglah
SHU: 923,889 to 1,853,986
The 7 Pot Douglah is not your typical 7 Pot pepper. It ages to a chocolate-brown and has more of a sweet and nutty flavor than fruity. And in terms of heat, it’s a major uptick from other 7 Pots – at its peak it nears the 2 million Scoville heat unit mark, which only a few chilies ever come close to (or surpass).
Dorset Naga
SHU: 1,000,000 to 1,598,227
The Dorset Naga is sort of a super Naga Morich (see below.) It was developed by choosing the seeds of the best possible Naga Morich chilies, creating a popular pepper in itself with a little extra heat. But the flavors (sweet and floral) are similar between these two peppers.
Naga Morich
SHU: 1,000,000 to 1,500,000
A relative of the ghost pepper, the Naga Morich (also known as the serpent chili), starts in heat where the ghost pepper ends. Its floor is 1 million SHU, compared to the ghost pepper’s peak heat of 1,041,427 SHU. It has a sweet, almost floral flavor and a slow burn heat.
Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T”
SHU: 800,000 to 1,463,700
The “Butch T” is a strain of the Trinidad Scorpion pepper, and for 3 years it held the Guinness Book title for world’s hottest pepper. It ranks here for its peak range, but it tends to average out to a hotter temperature than the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (which has the much higher potential peak heat). The “Butch T” gets its name from Butch Taylor, the developer of this super spicy chili.
Naga Viper
SHU: 900,000 to 1,382,118
The Naga Viper has quite the pedigree behind it. It’s a hybrid cross between three super-hot chilies – the ghost pepper, the Naga Morich, and the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion. In 2011 it took the official Guinness Book title as world’s hottest chili pepper, beating out the Infinity pepper. It lost the title in 2012, but still few chilies have held the title making the Naga Viper one to know among super-hots. It has the high heat of a scorpion pepper with the slow burn of a ghost pepper.
7 Pot Brain Strain
SHU: 1,000,000 – 1,350,000
The name’s the thing with this super-hot chili strain. The 7 Pot Brain Strain truly strains the brain in heat-factor, but the pod also looks a lot like a human brain in shape, folded and round. It’s a popular 7 Pot because of its fun look and mega-spiciness.
7 Pot Barrackpore
SHU: 1,000,000 – 1,300,000
Coming in bigger and hotter than most other 7 Pots, the 7 Pot Barrackpore is a real force among the world’s hottest peppers. What it has extra in heat, though, it loses some in overall flavor. It’s a little more bitter and less fruity than other super-hot chilies.
7 Pot Primo
SHU: 800,000 to 1,268,250
The Primo hybrid is a cross between a Naga Morich and a Trinidad 7 Pot pepper. Its heat level is at a minimum the level of a ghost pepper with the chance to cross into the world of hotter chilies like the Moruga Scorpion. The 7 Pot Primo is known for its pronounced scorpion-like tail. It was grown by Troy Primeaux(hence the “Primo” name.)
Infinity Pepper
SHU: 1,067,286 to 1,250,000
For a brief 2 weeks in 2011, the Infinity pepper held the Guinness Book of World Records title as the hottest pepper in the world, before being replaced by the Naga Viper. It stole the crown from the ghost pepper, and it’s easy to see that both it and the ghost have been relegated far down the super-hot line since that time. Infinity pepper is a good name as the chili has a slow burn, like the ghost pepper, that seems to last a lifetime.
Trinidad 7 Pot
SHU: 1,000,000 to 1,200,000
The common variety of the Trinidad 7 Pot pepper is a killer in the kitchen. It equals the peak heat of the Jonah strain, but with a higher heat floor that guarantees this chili is close to the top end of a ghost pepper, no matter what. 7 Pot peppers get their name for how far their extreme heat can go. One chili can easily spice up seven pots of stew – hence 7 Pot peppers.
7 Pot Jonah
SHU: 800,000 to 1,200,000
7 Pot peppers abound among the hottest peppers in the world. The 7 Pot Jonah is much like the traditional 7 Pot pepper below, but bigger in size and (some say) even fruitier in flavor (if you can get past the extreme heat). They can dip down in heat below the level of a ghost pepper, but at their peak, they’ll easily beat out the ghost by over 150,0000 Scoville units.
Ghost Pepper
SHU: 855,000 to 1,041,427
It really says a lot about the state of super-hot peppers when the notorious ghost pepper – once Guinness Book champ – barely cracks the top hottest peppers in the world. The ghost pepper (a.k.a. bhut jolokia) held the Guinness title for the hottest chili pepper in 2007, so it has gotten a lot of fame over the years. In fact, some of its non-culinary uses (a favorite among super-hot pepper eating challenges) have given it more notoriety than most of the chilies above it on this list.
Honorable mentions
Our honorable mentions sport chili peppers hotter than even the Carolina Reaper, but don’t have the track record on consistent heat (yet) to take the official throne as the hottest pepper in the world. Still, you should get to know these incredibly super-hot chilies as their names will only grow in prominence.
Death Spiral Pepper
- 1,300,000 to 1,500,000 Scoville heat units
- See our Death Spiral pepper profile
Otherwise known as the Death pepper, this super-hot chili is a hybrid of a Naga Bubblegum and a Naga Viper. It’s a wicked mix and rather unpredictable at the moment. The heat ranges widely but tends to hit near the Carolina Reaper range. Its colors and shape, too, vary from fruit to fruit. At some point, when the strain is stable, we’ll see where it lands, but for now, know it’s among the hottest peppers.
Apocalypse Scorpion Pepper
- 1,400,000+ Scoville heat units
- See our Apocolypse Scorpion profile
Also called “Apocalypse pepper,” this scorpion chili packs around the same weight as the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, but the jury is still out on its consistent performance on heat. It could top the Carolina Reaper, but it will likely not touch one of the incredibly hot contenders further down on the list. Still, it’s one wicked-looking (and tasting) chili with a sweet, floral flavor behind its extreme spiciness.
Chocolate Bhutlah
- 2,000,000 Scoville heat units
- See our Chocolate Bhutlah profile
The Chocolate Bhutlah is a hybrid of the ghost pepper and the 7 Pot Douglah. It’s not currently stable, but heat tests have shown this chili to be around the 2 million Scoville heat unit mark. Other reports give it a floor of about 1.5 million SHU. But that’s not official. Still, this level of heat easily puts it among the hottest peppers. And it’s certainly among the hottest (if not the hottest) “chocolate” chili varieties around.
Dragon’s Breath Pepper
- 2,480,000 Scoville heat units
- See our Dragon’s Breath profile
The Dragon’s Breath received a lot of attention in 2017 for its potentially record-breaking spiciness. Put it this way, the Dragon’s Breath was originally grown for medicinal use, to use its high level of capsaicin as an anesthetic. Initial tests indicated a peak Scoville rating of 2,480,000 SHU. That would easily beat the Carolina Reaper, but more testing and official Guinness records judging are in order to definitively declare the Dragon’s Breath chili as the winner of the hottest peppers top spot. For now, it’s an honorable mention as an extreme chili, even among extreme chilies.
Apollo Pepper
- 3,000,000+ Scoville heat units
- See our Apollo pepper profile
Smokin Ed Currie (the founder of Puckerbutt) is en fuego with another crazy-hot chili. The Apollo pepper is a hybrid of the Pepper X and the Carolina Reaper, and all signs point to it being a contender for the title of hottest pepper. But, like Pepper X, the Apollo pepper has not been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. We shall see if this serious chili has the super-hot staying power to grab the title.
Handling the world’s hottest peppers
Let the names of these chilies–like Scorpion and Reaper–be a warning. These are the spiciest peppers around–holders of multiple Guinness world records and the base for many of the hottest hot sauces around. They all make jalapeño peppers look like child’s play.
And while their differences in Scoville heat units may look vast, your experience will be similar when handling each. These are dangerous chilies, and, as such, they must be handled carefully. If you’re going to dance with the devil, wear kitchen gloves, eye goggles, and take great care throughout the cooking process. Know, too, how to combat chili burn to keep yourself safe.
Must-read related posts
- What Is Capsaicin? Learn all about the compound behind chili pepper spiciness.
- What is the Scoville scale? Discover the story behind the famous pepper heat scale.
- What are Scoville heat units? We talk about SHU a lot, especially when discussing the hottest peppers out there. Know what’s what about SHU.
- What is Capsicum Chinense? This species of chilies holds the hottest of the hot. Learn all about it.
- How To Grow Hotter Peppers: If you have a green thumb and love extreme chilies, then you’ll want to consider how to maximize their overall heat while growing them.
- Does Cooking Peppers Make Them Hotter? What happens when you cook a chili? This is excellent intel if you’re trying to maximize spiciness in a dish.
UPDATE NOTICE: This post was updated on November 21, 2023 to include new content.
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of hot peppers and their cultivation, I find Matt Bray's article on the hottest peppers published on November 21, 2023, to be both informative and comprehensive. My extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in this field enable me to provide insights and additional context to enhance your understanding of the concepts presented.
The article categorizes the hottest peppers based on their potential peak heat, measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The Scoville scale is a standard measurement of spiciness or heat intensity in peppers and other spicy foods, named after its creator, Wilbur Scoville.
Let's delve into the details of the featured peppers:
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Pepper X
- SHU: 2,693,000
- Developed by the Puckerbutt Pepper Company, Pepper X currently holds the Guinness World Record for the hottest pepper. Its exceptional heat, at nearly double the Carolina Reaper, establishes its position as the reigning champion.
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Carolina Reaper
- SHU: 1,400,000 to 2,200,000
- Maintaining its status as the official hottest pepper for almost a decade, the Carolina Reaper is renowned for its intense heat. The PuckerButt Pepper Company, led by Ed Currie, cultivates this pepper, ensuring a balance between extreme spiciness and fruity flavor.
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Komodo Dragon
- SHU: 1,400,000 to 2,200,000
- Similar in heat to the Carolina Reaper, the Komodo Dragon stands out for its face-melting spiciness with a sneaky sweet heat. Interestingly, it found its way into major supermarkets, such as TESCO stores in the United Kingdom.
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Trinidad Moruga Scorpion
- SHU: 1,200,000 to 2,000,000
- Originating from Trinidad and Tobago, this pepper earns its name from its scorpion-like "tail." At its peak, it can surpass the heat of many pepper sprays, making it a formidable contender.
-
7 Pot Douglah
- SHU: 923,889 to 1,853,986
- Differing from typical 7 Pot peppers, the 7 Pot Douglah ages to a chocolate-brown color and features a sweet and nutty flavor. Its peak heat nears the 2 million SHU mark, setting it apart from other chilies.
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Dorset Naga
- SHU: 1,000,000 to 1,598,227
- A super Naga Morich variant, the Dorset Naga boasts a slightly higher heat level due to the careful selection of the best Naga Morich seeds. Its sweet and floral flavors align with its super-hot reputation.
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Naga Morich
- SHU: 1,000,000 to 1,500,000
- A relative of the ghost pepper, the Naga Morich, also known as the serpent chili, exhibits a slow-burn heat with a sweet, almost floral flavor.
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Trinidad Scorpion "Butch T"
- SHU: 800,000 to 1,463,700
- A strain of the Trinidad Scorpion, the "Butch T" held the Guinness World Record for the world's hottest pepper for three years. Its peak heat tends to surpass the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.
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Naga Viper
- SHU: 900,000 to 1,382,118
- A hybrid cross between the ghost pepper, Naga Morich, and Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, the Naga Viper briefly held the Guinness World Record in 2011. Its high heat and slow burn make it noteworthy among super-hot peppers.
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7 Pot Brain Strain
- SHU: 1,000,000 to 1,350,000
- Known for its intense heat, the 7 Pot Brain Strain earns its name not just for its spiciness but also its unique folded and round pod shape resembling a human brain.
These peppers represent just a fraction of the extensive list provided in the article, showcasing the diversity and intensity of the world's hottest peppers. The inclusion of honorable mentions further emphasizes the ongoing quest for even spicier varieties, with names like Death Spiral Pepper, Apocalypse Scorpion Pepper, Chocolate Bhutlah, Dragon's Breath Pepper, and Apollo Pepper pushing the boundaries of heat levels.
The article concludes with a crucial section on handling the world's hottest peppers, underscoring the importance of caution and protective measures when dealing with these exceptionally spicy chilies. Additionally, the "Must-read related posts" section provides valuable information on capsaicin, the Scoville scale, Scoville heat units, Capsicum Chinense, growing hotter peppers, and the impact of cooking on pepper spiciness.
In essence, Matt Bray's article not only identifies the current champions of spiciness but also educates readers on the broader context of pepper cultivation, heat measurement, and safety considerations.
