Carolina Reaper

The Carolina Reaper is exceptionally hot, averaging around 1,641,183 Scoville Heat Units, with peak individual fruits measuring over 2 million SHU. It was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the hottest chili pepper in the world from 2013 until 2023. It features a distinctive gnarled, red appearance with a pointed "stinger" tail.

This incredibly hot chili pepper cultivar was bred by Ed Currie in South Carolina. He spent years crossbreeding peppers to achieve maximum heat levels. The pepper was officially named after the state where it was developed.

While it held the Guinness World Record for the hottest chili pepper from 2013 until 2023, it has since been surpassed by other cultivars like Pepper X. However, it remains one of the most famously hot and widely available superhot peppers. Its intense heat still challenges even the most seasoned spicy food eaters.

The pepper features a distinctive, lumpy, and gnarled red body. It is most famous for having a sharp, pointed "stinger" tail at the bottom of the fruit. This unique visual appearance makes it easily recognizable among superhot peppers.