The past twenty years have seen an explosion of new, super-hot hybrid peppers. Turn up the heat and learn the score with our top ten hottest peppers list, from the wicked Pepper X to the fiery Ghost Pepper. How many of the top ten hottest peppers have you tried?
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Pepper X.[1]
![Pepper X]()
Ed Currie created the hybrid "Pepper X" in 2017. At over 3 million Scoville heat units, it is judged to be too dangerous for human consumption in its pure form. Developed over a 10 year span, this instant intestinal horror show is up to 1,272 times hotter than the mildest jalapeño. This hottest of hot peppers is the same level of heat typical of military grade pepper spray.
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Carolina Reaper.[1][3]
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The second-hottest pepper in the world, the Carolina Reaper clocks in at an astonishing 2.2 million Scoville heat units. Named “Reaper” due to the shape of its tell, this super hot pepper has been described as having a fruit taste initially . . . .right before turning into “molten lava.”
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Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.[2]
![Hot Peppers Trinidad]()
The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion briefly held the world record in 2012, before being replaced by the Carolina Reaper. People who’ve dared to eat it say the heat doesn’t seem so bad at first, but mounts fast and keeps on climbing.
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Brain Strain.[3]
![Really hot pepper]()
The name of number four on our list says it all. Yet another variant of the 7-pot pepper, the "Brain Strain" approaches the 2 million Scoville mark, making it one of the headiest capsaicin bombs known to humankind. Adding to its uniqueness is its resemblance to a brain. In any case, it’s definitely going to set your whole head on fire.
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Pot Primo.[3]
![Hottest Pepper Capsaicin]()
Weighing in at number five is the Pot Primo, a hybrid between the original 7-pot pepper and the Naga Morich. The offspring of two such hotties, it’s no surprise that it can reach heat levels of 1.9 million Scoville heat units. For those who love extreme eating, this stable hybrid pepper is highly sought after. Plus, it’s fruity punch and scorpion-like tail definitely make it wicked fun.
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7-Pot Douglah Pepper.[3]
![Chocolate 7-pot]()
The 7-pot Douglah, also called the “Chocolate 7-pot,” is a dark purplish brown. That’s where the resemblance to chocolate ends, however, as this little pepper boasts a whopping 1.8 million heat units. Definitely a scorcher, the hottest 7 Pot Douglas is about 232 times hotter than the hottest jalapeño pepper and more than 5 times hotter than a very hot habanero pepper. Talk about packing heat!
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Trinidad Scorpion "Butch T."[3]
![Butch T Scorpion]()
The Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T” is named for Butch Taylor, its creator. It ends in a stinger that resembles a scorpion’s tail, and at nearly 1.5 million heat units, packs just as much of a punch. This unique pepper is one of the most piquant peppers in the world, and , according to gossip, fertilizer the soil with the liquid runoff of a worm farm is the secret to the chili’s heat.
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Naga Viper.[3]
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At 1.35 million heat units, the Naga Viper is nearly as dangerous as its namesake. Created in England by chili farmer Gerald Fowler of the Chili Pepper Company, it was briefly declared the “World’s Hottest Chili Pepper” in 2011 by Guinness World Record, though it was shortly surpassed in 2012. It is an unstable three-way hybrid from the Naga Morch, the Bhut Jolokia, and the Trinidad Scorpion.
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Barrackpore.[3]
![Hot Peppers Fact]()
The Barrackapore originated from the region of Barrackpore on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad and is a variant of the 7-pot pepper. This hot pepper has a sweet, tropical flavor, but also brings the heat, with 1.3 million Scoville heat units. It is ideal to grow for hot sauces a powders because of its great flavor, high yield, and unrelenting heat.
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Ghost Pepper.[3]
![Hot pepper fact]()
The Bhut Jolokia, more commonly known as the Ghost Pepper, originated in India and was one of the first super-hot modern peppers. Though it's been surpassed by new hybrids, it still packs a punch at 1 million heat units, which is about 200 times hotter than your average jalapeño.