Pepper X Crowned the Worlds Hottest Pepper of 2023

Pepper X Crowned the Worlds Hottest Pepper of 2023

The world of spicy cuisine has a new reigning champion: Pepper X. As of October 2023, the Guinness Book of World Records has officially recognized Pepper X as the world’s hottest chili pepper, stealing the fiery crown from the famed Carolina Reaper.

Developed by the renowned chili cultivator, Ed Currie of the Puckerbutt Pepper Company the Puckerbutt Pepper Company—the genius behind the Carolina Reaper—Pepper X is not just a chili pepper, but a decade-long pursuit of fiery perfection. The pepper averages an impressive 2,693,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), with some reports even suggesting it can soar up to a blistering 3.18 million SHU.

For those unfamiliar with the Scoville scale, let’s put this in perspective:

  • Carolina Reaper: Up to 2,200,000 SHU (average of 1.64 million SHU)
  • Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper): 1,001,304 SHU
  • Typical Jalapeno: A mere 5,000 SHU

Ed Currie’s journey with Pepper X is an embodiment of dedication and passion. In his words, “Pepper X is three times hotter than any other peppers that are out there available commercially. It’s twice as hot as the Reaper at 1.6 million. This is a dangerous pepper.” This fiery fruit has been cultivated through multiple cross-breedings to achieve a pepper with an exceptionally high capsaicin content.

The Scoville score, a measure of pungency or spiciness, was meticulously calculated by researchers at Winthrop University in South Carolina. They based their findings on comprehensive tests, analyzing peppers cultivated over the past four years.

This official recognition comes after a period of anticipation in the chili-loving community. It was initially thought that the results would be announced as early as November 2019. The long wait, however, only makes this victory even sweeter—or should we say spicier?

The chili community worldwide congratulates Ed Currie on his groundbreaking achievement. As lovers of all things spicy gear up to challenge their taste buds with the heat of Pepper X, it’s clear that the world of chilies has entered a new era of extreme heat.

Pepper X is not just a pepper—it’s a testament to the unyielding pursuit of culinary extremes, and we cannot express how excited we are to soon add it to our how to grow pepper articles.