Carolina Reaper - wikipedia Carolina Reaper Carolina Reaper Species Capsicum chinense Hybrid parentage Bhut jolokia × red habanero Breeder Ed Currie Origin Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA Heat Exceptionally hot Scoville scale 1,569,300 on average SHU The Carolina Reaper, originally named the HP22B, is a cultivar of the Capsicum chinense plant. The pepper is red and gnarled, with a small pointed tail. In 2013, Guinness World Records dubbed it the hottest chili in the world, surpassing the previous record holder, the Trinidad Scorpion `` Butch T ''. As of September 2017, the hottest chili pepper known is Pepper X having a Scoville scale of 3.18 million units. Origin and use Bred in a Rock Hill, South Carolina greenhouse by `` Smokin '' Ed Currie, proprietor of the PuckerButt Pepper Company in Fort Mill, the Carolina Reaper has been certified as the world 's hottest chili pepper by Guinness World Records since August 7, 2013. The original crossbreed was between a Bhut jolokia ( a former world record holder ) and a red habanero, and is named ' Reaper ' due to the shape of its tail. The official Guinness World Record heat level is 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units ( SHU ), according to tests conducted by Winthrop University in South Carolina. The figure is an average for the tested batch ; the hottest individual pepper was measured at 2.2 million SHU. At the second Annual New York City Hot Sauce Expo on March 30, 2014, Guinness World Records presented Ed Currie with his world record. There, an eating competition occurred and Russel Todd won the contest, consuming three Carolina Reapers in 12.23 seconds, a new Guinness record. This record was beaten in September 2014 by Jason McNabb, who finished three peppers in 10.95 seconds. Wayne Algenio of Jamaica, Queens, broke the world record at the Puckerbutt Pepper Company 's Smokin ' Ed 's Reaper Eating Challenge at the NYC Hot Sauce Expo in Brooklyn on April 24, 2016 by eating 22 Carolina Reapers in 60 seconds. In regards to growing, the pepper has been described as `` a good all - rounder to try at home '' by UK ethnobotanist James Wong, who said that they require temperatures of at least 18 -- 20 ° C ( 64 -- 68 ° F ) and suggested growing in 30 -- 40 cm ( 12 -- 16 in ) pots to restrict growth and produce fruit sooner. It has been described as having a fruity taste, with the initial bite being sweet and then immediately turning to `` molten lava ''. When fully ripe, it is typically about the size of a ping - pong ball. In May 2017, Mike Smith of St Asaph working with Nottingham Trent University claimed to have surpassed the Carolina Reaper with his Dragon 's Breath pepper, reported to be 2.4 million SHUs, and has applied to Guinness World Records for confirmation. As of September 2017, the hottest chili pepper known is Pepper X having a Scoville scale of 3.18 million units. 30 - day - old Carolina Reaper plant Mature plant References Jump up ^ `` About Us ''. PuckerButt Pepper Co. 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 ®. Jump up ^ `` Confirmed : Smokin Ed 's Carolina Reaper sets new record for hottest chilli ''. Guinness world records. 2013 - 11 - 19. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 14. ^ Jump up to : Elizabeth Licata ( 23 September 2017 ). `` Pepper X is the new hottest pepper in the world ''. The Daily Meal. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 December 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Hottest chili ''. Guinness World Records. Retrieved July 11, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Hallock, Betty ( December 26, 2013 ). `` World 's hottest pepper hits 2.2 million Scoville heat units ''. Los Angeles Times. ^ Jump up to : Tu, Chau. `` Eating the ' Carolina Reaper ' pepper is ' like eating molten lava ' ''. pri. Jump up ^ Duffy, Jim ( Habanero ). `` Carolina Reaper ''. Super hot chiles. Ed created this chile plant variety by crossing a Ghost pepper ( Bhut Jolokia ) with a Red Habanero type from St Vincents Island in the West Indies. Jump up ^ Collins, Jeffrey ( December 26, 2013 ). `` World 's hottest pepper is grown in South Carolina ''. Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Guinness World Record Pepper Eating Attempt To Take Place At 2nd Annual New York City Hot Sauce Expo ''. PR Newswire. Retrieved August 19, 2015. Jump up ^ Gross, Matt ( March 31, 2014 ). `` What 's It Like to Eat the World 's Hottest Chile Pepper ? ''. Bon Appetit. Retrieved August 19, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Fastest time to eat three Carolina Reaper chilis ''. Guinness World Records. Retrieved August 19, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Man Smashes Guinness World Record for Most Reaper Peppers Eaten in 60 Seconds ''. ABC News. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016. Jump up ^ Wong, James ( February 28, 2016 ). `` Gardens : the hottest chilli ever grown ''. The Guardian. Retrieved February 26, 2016. Jump up ^ Smithers, Rebecca. `` UK shoppers to feel the heat as world 's strongest chilli hits the high street ''. The Guardian. Jump up ^ `` Carolina Reaper - HP22B - World 's Hottest Chiles ''. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Carolina Reaper - HP22B - World 's Hottest Chiles ''. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` ' World 's hottest ' chilli pepper grown in St Asaph ''. BBC News. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carolina Reaper. `` World 's hottest pepper is grown in South Carolina '' CBS news. `` World 's hottest pepper hits 2.2 million Scoville heat units '', The LA times, 2013 - 12 - 26. Capsicum cultivars C. annuum var. annuum Aleppo Banana pepper Bell pepper Bird 's eye Cascabel Cayenne Cheongyang Chilaca Cubanelle De árbol Dundicut Espelette Facing heaven ' Fresno Chili ' Friggitello Guajillo Guntur Sannam Hungarian wax Jalapeño Medusa Mulato New Mexico ( a.k.a. Anaheim / Hatch ) Padrón Pasilla Peter Pimiento Poblano Santa Fe Grande Serrano Shishito C. annuum var. glabriusculum Piquín Wild chiltepin C. chinense Adjuma Ají dulce Bhut jolokia ' Carolina Reaper ' Datil ' Dragon 's Breath ' Fatalii Habanero Hainan yellow lantern ' Madame Jeanette ' ' Naga Morich ' ' Red Savina ' habanero Scotch bonnet Trinidad moruga scorpion Trinidad scorpion ' Butch T ' ' Pepper X ' C. frutescens African bird 's eye Kambuzi Malagueta Siling labuyo Tabasco C. baccatum Ají Bishop 's crown Lemon drop Peppadew C. pubescens Rocoto pepper Commons Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carolina_Reaper&oldid=815578410 '' Categories : Chili peppers Crops originating from the United States Capsicum cultivars Hidden categories : Articles with ' species ' microformats Commons category with local link different than on Wikidata Talk About Wikipedia Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Slovenčina Tagalog Türkçe Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 15 December 2017, at 18 : 16. 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Question: what are the hottest peppers on the planet
Answer: Carolina Reaper