Carolina Reaper the hottest pepper in the world

The Carolina Reaper’s heat can range from 1,400,000 to 2,2,00,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHUs) and is currently the “Hottest Pepper in the World” according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

What Is the Carolina Reaper Chili?

The Carolina Reaper is classified as a superhot or an extremely hot pepper. This scorching chili was developed by crossing a West Indies’ red Habanero chili with a Pakistani Naga chili. Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, US tested the heat level of the Reaper after 13 generations and calculated that the chili’s heat exceeded 2.2 million SHUs. But there is more than heat to this superhot pepper. It has a nice fruity flavor underneath the heat. Some have compared it to the 7 Pot chili pepper.

How Much Hotter is the Carolina Reaper than the Ghost Pepper?

Carolina Reaper Mash Jar

Carolina Reaper Mash

The Ghost Pepper, or Bhut Jolokia is one of the first superhot peppers around. But they can’t reach the heat of the hottest pepper in the world, the Carolina Reaper. The Ghost pepper ranges from 855,000 to 1,041,427 SHUs. At its hottest, the reaper packs more than twice the heat.

Description of the Hottest Pepper in the World

The pod of a Reaper is not a large one. It runs between one and two inches in width and is two to three inches in length. When the pods mature, they are a vibrant red hue. The outside is bumpy and rough although sometimes it is smoother. One of its most distinctive features is the scorpion-like tail making it look a lot like the scorpion pepper.

What does the Reaper Taste Like?

Even though the world’s hottest pepper packs lots of heat, it will surprise you with a fruity, sweet flavor.  This makes it a great choice for adding both flavor and heat to your favorite dishes. The combination is perfect for hot sauces.  The powder form makes it easy to add these elements to lots of different dishes.  Of course, it is best to use sparingly, since a little bit goes a very long way. Toss a little bit in your next pot of chili or stew to enjoy the unique flavor.

Will eating the hottest pepper in the world kill you?

No. Eating the Carolina Reaper, the hottest pepper in the world is not going to kill you.  However, you can get too much capsaicin which is the chemical (or oil) in chili peppers that make them hot. But to get too much, you’d have to eat over three ounces of Carolina Reapers.  There have been a few instances of someone ending up in the hospital after eating these hot peppers, but usually, they have an underlying medical condition.  One rumor was that a man burned a hole in his esophagus from hot peppers.  This turned out to be untrue.  What really happened was a hole formed after he started vomiting after eating a burger that had Ghost pepper puree on it.  There are times the superhot peppers can cause hiccups, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. But they cannot burn through your inside body parts.

Would YOU eat a Carolina Reaper?

Lots of people love to eat the superhot peppers.  There are legitimate pepper-eating contests where
people compete to eat the largest number of hot peppers without tapping out.  The heat is extreme, and your eyes may begin to water, and your mouth will feel like it’s on fire. Most people use them to make mashes or sauces. Once you get used to the heat though, they add wonderful flavor to sauces, soups, stews, chilis, and tons of other foods.

Where to Get Carolina Reapers

You can order Carolina Reaper peppers and products from Magic Plant Shop. They are the largest
suppliers of hot peppers in the world. They maintain farms in many different countries around the
globe to ensure diversity. Having farms in various regions also makes sure there is year-round
availability.

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