The Top 10 Hottest Peppers In The World: Ranking, Uses And Flavor

Devangana Rathore
Feb 23, 2023 By Devangana Rathore
Originally Published on Nov 16, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi
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The ranking of the world's hottest peppers is constantly expanding. Learn more about the world's top 10 hottest peppers.

Since there are so many super-hot combinations, perhaps too many official testing findings are the only way to confirm.

However, any pepper may be tested for Scoville units, which is a simple and inexpensive procedure. The molecule responsible for spicy heat in foods, capsaicin, is measured and documented in Scoville Heat Units (SHU).

Wilbur Scoville, an American pharmacist, created the Scoville heat scale. He invented the Scoville Organoleptic Test in 1912. In recent years, the hot pepper scale is becoming somewhat of a challenge. To test the Scoville Heat Scale limitations, growers are generating hotter and hotter varieties.

Annually, the Guinness Book of World Records publishes a new list of the world's hottest chili peppers. Many peppers, such as the Carolina Reaper, have established a stronghold on their position. Others, however, are evolving as new chili pepper kinds are found and developed.

What holds the hottest peppers in the world? Let's see! If you want to take a deep dive into other fun articles, check out how hot are serrano peppers andwhere do peppercorns come from.

List Of The Top 10 Hottest Peppers In The World

Which hot pepper is your personal favorite? Here is the list of the top 10 hottest peppers in the world: Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, 7 Pot Douglah, Dorset Naga, 7 Pot Primo, Trinidad Scorpion (or Butch T), Komodo Dragon, Naga Viper, Pot Brain Strain, and Red Savina Habanero.

Flavors Of The World's Hottest Peppers

Flavors of top 10 hottest chili peppers in the world!

The Carolina Reaper (Rating-1,400,000–2,200,000 Scoville heat units). Throughout 2013, the Carolina Reaper has held the title of hottest chili pepper in the world.

It is the only chili on our ranking that has broken its record. The Carolina Reaper boosted its play three years after becoming awarded the World's Hottest Pepper for the first time, with a hotter Scoville Heat Unit score. The Reaper, previously ranked the world's most desirable in 2013, was tested again in 2018 with a greater SHU.

The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (Rating-2,000,000 Scoville heat units). The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion was named the hottest and newest chili pepper in the world in February 2012 by the Chili Pepper Institute (New Mexico State University).

The Carolina Reaper holds the current record. The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, on the other hand, was not recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records being the hottest pepper in the world.

Trinidad Scorpion has a Scoville Heat Unit rating of 2,009,231 when it's at its hottest. It may come as a surprise to learn that this pepper has a pleasant, almost fruity aroma, but you will feel the burn!

7-Pot Douglah (Rating-923,000-1.85 Million Scoville heat units). It has a chocolaty brown color, which is unusual for a dish comprised primarily of red peppers.

This pepper derives its name from its intense heat, enough to spice it up to seven stews in theory. This pepper begins out green and turns a smoky brown color as it matures. The flavor profile of the 7-Pot Douglah is a delectable mix of nutty, fruity, and sweet.

7-Pot Primo (Rating-1,473,480 Scoville heat units). This pepper is a hybrid of the Trinidad 7-Pot, and the Naga Morich peppers.

To distinguish it from the other 7-Pot chilies, it is sometimes called the Primo, after its creator Troy Primeaux nicknamed 'Primo'. This pepper has a delicious, flowery flavor and is 300 times hotter than the jalapeno pepper. Like the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, this pepper has a narrow tail and comes in red, yellow, or orange.

Trinidad Scorpion Butch T (Rating-1,463,700 Scoville heat units). It's only slightly less spicy than fourth place on the ranking of the world's most piquant peppers.

In 2011, the pepper was ranked as the World's Hottest Pepper. The Trinidad Scorpion 'Butch T' type pepper was once regarded as the world's hottest pepper. Although some hot peppers appear sweet or tasty at first, this one burns immediately and intensely.

Naga Viper (Rating- 855,000-1,349,000 Scoville Heat Units). This pepper is a rare cross of the Trinidad Scorpion, Naga Morich, and Bhut Jolokia chili peppers.

Each one of these peppers is quite spicy on its own. When they come together, though, you get a delightfully hot Naga Viper. Guinness World Records declared it the 'World's Hottest Chili' in 2011 (now #5).

They were created in England by chili grower Gerald Fowler (The Chili Pepper Company) and are 270 times hotter than the Jalapeno pepper. Spicy, fruity, and fiery is how the flavor is described.

Ghost Pepper or Bhut Jolokia (Rating-1,041,427 Scoville Heat Units). Although the Ghost Pepper is the most well-known pepper, it has developed a reputation for being the ideal chili for hot sauce. From 2007 to 2011, the Ghost Pepper earned the distinction of World's Hottest Pepper for four years. It has a strong aroma and a delicious flavor.

7-Pot Barrackpore (Rating-around 1,000,000 Scoville Heat Units). This pepper is named after its 'hometown' in Trinidad (Barrackpore). Trinidad is known for its hot peppers.

You'll notice a rare blend of fruity and bitter flavors when you taste the 7-Pot Barrackpore. Expect to eat a lot of peppers if you try to produce your personal 7-Pot Barrackpore. Each plant generates a large number of chili pods.

7-Pot Brain Strain (Rating-1,000,000 Scoville Heat Units). Each of these peppers' seeds was introduced to the United States by David Capiello of Trinidad.

The 7-Pot Brain Strain does not a combination, unlike other peppers. Instead, it is the result of selective breeding, in which the first breeders gathered chili pods with the traits they desired for this unique pepper. Like other hot peppers, it is most often blazing red but can also be found in yellow.

7-Pot Jonah (Rating-800,000 Scoville Heat Units). This chili has a fruity taste, which makes it great for salsas, jellies, and other sauces that include other fruits. Although, however, the most common kind changes color from green towards red, yellow peppers are also available.

Red Savina Habanero (Rating- 350,000-577,000 Scoville Heat Units). From 1994 until 2006, it was the hottest pepper in the world. In 2007, the Ghost Pepper surpassed this as the hottest pepper. Red Savina is 65 times hotter than the Jalapeno pepper and twice as fiery as a typical Habanero.

Although the Ghost Pepper is the most well known pepper

Where can you find the world's hottest peppers and what are they used for?

Ed Currie of South Carolina's PuckerButt Pepper Company was the first to produce the super-hot pepper. It's a hybrid of a red habanero pepper and a red ghost pepper.

These types of peppers created flaming red pepper with a distinct spiciness. The Carolina Reaper, indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago's Moruga region, contains notes of chocolate and cinnamon in its taste profile.

Before the heat gets in, the Carolina Reaper pepper possesses a fruity and sweet taste. It's excellent in chili, stir-fries, and marinades without taking away from the original recipe's flavor.

Can any peppers kill you from the heat?

Yes, several of the hottest peppers can kill you, but you'd have to eat a lot of them all at once to do so.

According to studies, eating 3 lb (1.3 kg) of powdered and dried capsaicin-rich peppers, such as the Carolina Reaper or the Ghost Pepper, in a short amount of time would kill a 150 lb (68 kg) individual.

Capsaicin is a neurotoxin that can induce difficulties breathing, convulsions, heart attacks, and mortality if consumed in excessive amounts. So while consuming a pepper with 1 million or more Scoville units can't harm you, it may cause hours or days of discomfort while your body is trying to digest it.

This is why, rather than consuming these super-spicy chilies raw, many people prefer using them to relish dishes.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly factsfor everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for the top 10 hottest peppers then why not take a look at when do lightning bugs come out, or things to do when bored at night.

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Written by Devangana Rathore

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Language, Master of Philosophy

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Devangana RathoreBachelor of Arts specializing in English Language, Master of Philosophy

Devangana is a highly accomplished content writer and a deep thinker with a Master's degree in Philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin. With a wealth of experience in copywriting, she has worked with The Career Coach in Dublin and is constantly looking to enhance her skills through online courses from some of the world's leading universities. Devangana has a strong background in computer science and is also an accomplished editor and social media manager. Her leadership skills were honed during her time as the literacy society president and student president at the University of Delhi.

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Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi

Postgraduate Diploma in Management

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Sakshi RaturiPostgraduate Diploma in Management

Sakshi has experience in marketing strategy, social media planning, and recruiting industry experts for capstone projects, she has displayed a commitment to enhancing their skills and knowledge. She has won multiple awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation for Creative Writing and a Certificate of Merit for Immaculate Turut, and is always seeking new opportunities to grow and develop.

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