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Carolina Reaper
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| Carolina Reaper | |
|---|---|
| Species | Capsicum chinense |
| Hybrid parentage | Naga pepper x Habanero |
| Breeder | Ed Currie |
| Origin | Fort Mill, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Heat | |
| Scoville scale | 1,641,183 SHU |
The Carolina Reaper chili pepper is a cultivar of the Capsicum chinense plant. Developed by American breeder Ed Currie, the pepper is red and gnarled, with a bumpy texture and small pointed tail. It was the hottest chili pepper in the world according to Guinness World Records from 2013 to 2023 before it was surpassed by Pepper X, which was also developed by Currie.
Development
[edit]Currie, an American breeder, began working around 2001 on what would become the Carolina Reaper. It took over 10 years to develop.[1][2] Sorting through hundreds of hybrid combinations, Currie was finally successful at crossing a "really nastily hot" La Soufrière (Saint Vincent) Habanero pepper from the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent and a Naga pepper/Ghost pepper (locally known as bhüt jolokia) from Assam".[3][2][1][a] During November of that year, a reporter from NPR visited Currie to try the new pepper. According to Currie's website: "The reporter ate a small piece of the pepper, rolled around on the floor, hallucinated, and then shared his experiences with the national media."[2] Currie officially named the pepper: "Smokin' Ed's Carolina Reaper". The word "reaper" was chosen by Currie due to the shape of the pepper's "sickle-like" tail.[5]
Details
[edit]The Carolina Reaper was certified as the world's hottest chili pepper by Guinness World Records on August 11, 2017.[6] Testing was conducted by Winthrop University in South Carolina during the certification process which showed an average heat level of 1,641,183 SHU for a given batch.[6][7] Previously the record for the hottest pepper had been held by the scorpion pepper which measured in at 1,463,700 SHU in comparison.[7][8] It was later claimed through media outlets such as the Associated Press that an individual Carolina Reaper had a heat level of 2.2 million SHU.[7][9][b] Currie eventually bred an even stronger pepper—known as "Pepper X"—that took the title of "World's Hottest Pepper" on August 23, 2023 that was tested indicating an average rating of 2.69 million SHUs.[10][11]

Pungency
[edit]The Reaper has been described as having a fruity taste, with the initial bite being sweet and then immediately turning to "molten lava."[5][12] The sensory heat or pungency detected when eating a Carolina Reaper derives from the density of capsaicinoids, particularly capsaicin, which relates directly to the intensity of chili pepper heat and Scoville Heat Units (SHU).[13]
Cultivation
[edit]For growing, the pepper has been described as "a good all-rounder to try at home" by James Wong, an English ethnobotanist, who stated that they require growing temperatures of at least 18 °C (64 °F). He suggested growing the plants in 30–40 cm (12–16 in) pots to restrict growth and produce fruit sooner.[14] When fully ripe, two peppers occupy the palm of the hand.[12]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b David Floyd (2016). "101: Carolina Reaper (HP22B)". 101 Chillies to Try Before You Die. Octopus. ISBN 978-1-84403-865-7.
- ^ a b c "About Us". PuckerButt Pepper Co. Archived from the original on February 23, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
Smokin' Ed gained the pepper industry's attention in November 2011 when an NPR Reporter stopped by to eat an HP22B pepper–now known as Smokin' Ed's Carolina Reaper®.
- ^ Zucchino, David (November 27, 2014). "From Pot To Hot: How a grower produced world's most fiery chile pepper". LA Times. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
It took 12 years of crossbreeding for Currie to reach the pinnacle of the pepper world. He said he tested hundreds of hybrid combinations before finally crossing a "really nastily hot" La Soufriere pepper from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and a Naga pepper from Pakistan to create Smokin Ed's Carolina Reaper—"a tidal wave of scorching fire," as the PuckerButt website puts it.
- ^ "Confirmed: Smokin Ed's Carolina Reaper sets new record for hottest chilli". Guinness world records. November 19, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Tu Chau (August 18, 2016). "Eating the 'Carolina Reaper' pepper is 'like eating molten lava'". Pri. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Hottest chilli pepper (2017)". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c Hallock, Betty (December 26, 2013). "World's Hottest Pepper Hits 2.4 Million Scoville Heat Units". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ DaSilva, Matthew (April 12, 2011). "World's hottest chilli grown by Aussies". Australian Geographic. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ Collins, Jeffrey (December 26, 2013). "World's Hottest Pepper is Grown in South Carolina". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Hottest chilli pepper". Guinness World Records. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pepper X dethrones Carolina Reaper as world's hottest chilli pepper". Guinness World Records. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ a b Smithers, Rebecca (July 16, 2016). "UK shoppers to feel the heat as world's strongest chilli hits the high street". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ Nagy, Z; Daood, H; Ambrózy, Z; Helyes, L (2015). "Determination of Polyphenols, Capsaicinoids, and Vitamin C in New Hybrids of Chili Peppers". Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry. 2015 102125. doi:10.1155/2015/102125. PMC 4606152. PMID 26495153.
- ^ Wong, James (February 28, 2016). "Gardens: the hottest chilli ever grown". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Ed Currie, Breeding the Carolina Reaper – video on YouTube (17 July 2017)
Carolina Reaper
View on GrokipediaHistory and Development
Origins and Breeding
The Carolina Reaper was developed through selective breeding by Ed Currie, founder and president of the PuckerButt Pepper Company, based in Fort Mill, South Carolina, with greenhouse operations in nearby Rock Hill.[7][8] Currie began experimenting with superhot chili peppers in the early 2000s, aiming to create varieties that combined extreme pungency with desirable flavor profiles.[7] The breeding program took place in controlled greenhouse environments to facilitate precise genetic manipulation and trait stabilization.[8] The cultivar originated from a cross between a La Soufrière habanero variant, sourced from St. Vincent in the Caribbean, and a Pakistani Naga (Bhut Jolokia) ghost pepper strain.[7] Currie obtained the La Soufrière seeds from a co-worker originally from St. Vincent and the Naga seeds from a friend in Michigan, initiating the hybridization around 2002.[7] Through hand-pollination, the parent plants were manually crossed to produce F1 hybrids, followed by isolation of subsequent generations to prevent unintended cross-pollination from other pepper varieties.[7] This process allowed for the selection and stabilization of key traits, including high capsaicin content and unique pod morphology, over multiple self-pollinating generations—typically five or more—to achieve genetic uniformity.[7][9] By 2012, Currie had produced the first stable plants from this lineage, which he named the Carolina Reaper due to the pod's distinctive, scythe-like tail resembling the Grim Reaper's weapon.[7][10] Initial testing of the variety occurred throughout 2012 at Winthrop University in South Carolina, confirming its exceptional heat levels and marking the culmination of over a decade of iterative breeding efforts.[8] The Reaper's development emphasized not only intensity but also fruity undertones, setting it apart from its superhot predecessors.[7]Recognition and Records
The Carolina Reaper achieved international recognition when it was certified by Guinness World Records as the world's hottest chili pepper in November 2013, with an average Scoville heat unit (SHU) rating of 1,569,300 based on laboratory analysis of multiple samples.[11] This surpassed the previous record holder, the Trinidad Scorpion "Butch T," by over 100,000 SHU. The certification involved testing conducted by students and faculty at Winthrop University in South Carolina, who employed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify capsaicinoid concentrations in the peppers.[12] In August 2017, Guinness World Records updated the Carolina Reaper's standing following additional verified testing, raising its average SHU to 1,641,183 while noting peak levels exceeding 2.2 million SHU in some specimens.[13] The same Winthrop University lab confirmed these results through HPLC analysis of capsaicin and related compounds, ensuring adherence to standardized protocols for record validation. The pepper held this title unchallenged for six years, during which it became a staple in competitive eating events; for instance, Guinness recognized feats such as consuming 122 grams of Carolina Reapers in one minute in 2023.[14] Seed and plant sales proliferated under official trademarks owned by PuckerButt Pepper Company, the breeder's firm, which registered "Carolina Reaper" for agricultural and processed products in 2019.[15] The Carolina Reaper's reign ended in October 2023 when Guinness certified Pepper X, another cultivar developed by the same breeder Ed Currie, at an average of 2,693,000 SHU—nearly 1 million SHU hotter.[6] As of 2025, the Carolina Reaper no longer holds the hottest pepper distinction but maintains strong commercial prominence through sauces, powders, and seeds sold by PuckerButt Pepper Company, with ongoing breeding efforts by Currie yielding even hotter variants like Pepper X.[16] It continues to feature in global hot pepper challenges, including 2025 events at festivals like the Durban Chilli Festival and Berlin Chili Fest, where competitors consume dozens in timed contests.[17]Description
Physical Characteristics
The Carolina Reaper is a cultivar of Capsicum chinense that grows as a shrubby perennial plant, typically reaching a height of 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) with a bushy, spreading habit under optimal conditions.[18][19] The leaves are medium green, oval-shaped with pointed tips, and arranged alternately along the stems, exhibiting slight serration along the edges.[19] The plant produces small white flowers with five petals, which appear in clusters and are self-pollinating, contributing to its reproductive efficiency.[19] The pods of the Carolina Reaper are distinctive, measuring approximately 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in length and width, with an oblong, gnarled shape featuring deep wrinkles and a bumpy texture.[20] A signature feature is the "reaper's tail" or scorpion stinger, a curved, pointed appendage at the non-stem end that gives the pod its menacing appearance.[21][18] The pods have medium-thin flesh and contain small seeds, with an average fresh weight of 5 to 10 grams per pod.[20][22] As the pods mature, they transition from green to vibrant red or orange hues, developing a glossy, blistered skin that accentuates their wrinkled surface.[18] This maturation process typically occurs 90 to 120 days after germination, highlighting the pod's compact form compared to its parent ghost pepper, which produces longer, smoother fruits on taller plants.[23][24] The wrinkled texture and overall pod shape reflect stable hybrid traits inherited from its habanero-like parent, ensuring vigorous plant growth and consistent morphology in cultivated varieties.[25][20]Pungency and Heat Measurement
The pungency of the Carolina Reaper arises primarily from capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, such as dihydrocapsaicin, which are vanilloid compounds concentrated in the placental tissue—the white, spongy partition that holds the seeds within the fruit.[26][27] These chemicals bind to TRPV1 receptors in the mouth, producing a burning sensation, with capsaicin typically comprising about 60-70% of total capsaicinoids and dihydrocapsaicin around 20-30%.[28] Studies using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have measured capsaicin concentrations in Carolina Reaper placental tissue at up to 100 mg/g dry weight, with dihydrocapsaicin at 28-32 mg/g dry weight.[29] The standard measure of this heat is the Scoville Heat Units (SHU) scale, invented in 1912 by pharmacologist Wilbur Scoville to assess chili pepper pungency through organoleptic testing.[26] In this original method, a pepper extract is serially diluted with sugar water until the heat is undetectable by a trained panel of five tasters, with the dilution factor equating to SHU (e.g., a 1:1,000,000 dilution yields 1,000,000 SHU).[26] Due to its subjectivity, modern assessments rely on HPLC to quantify total capsaicinoid content in parts per million (ppm), converting to SHU by multiplying by a factor of approximately 16, as pure capsaicin rates at 16 million SHU.[29][28] Carolina Reaper pods show considerable variability in heat, ranging from 1.0 to 2.2 million SHU depending on factors like growing conditions, soil nutrients, and harvest timing, with HPLC analyses confirming total capsaicinoid levels of 95-132 mg/g dry weight in high-pungency samples.[29][28] The official Guinness World Records average for verified Carolina Reaper samples is 1,641,183 SHU, measured via HPLC.[1] This intensity vastly surpasses that of milder varieties like the jalapeño (2,500-8,000 SHU) and exceeds the ghost pepper (855,000-1,041,427 SHU).[26]| Pepper Variety | Scoville Heat Units (SHU) Range |
|---|---|
| Jalapeño | 2,500–8,000 |
| Ghost Pepper | 855,000–1,041,427 |
| Carolina Reaper | 1,000,000–2,200,000 |
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