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Which Is the Hottest Chili Pepper in the World?

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Quick Answer

Pepper X is officially the world's hottest chili pepper, averaging about 2.69 million Scoville Heat Units.

The Full Story

Pepper X was bred by Ed Currie of the PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina and recognised by Guinness World Records in October 2023. It averages about 2.69 million Scoville Heat Units, far hotter than a jalapeño at roughly 2,500 to 8,000. It replaced Currie's earlier creation, the Carolina Reaper, which had held the title since 2013 at about 1.64 million units. The Scoville scale was devised in 1912 by American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville. Pure capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers hot, measures about 16 million units.

Key Facts

1.Pepper X took around a decade of cross-breeding to develop.
2.Capsaicin triggers the same nerve receptors that detect heat.
3.Birds do not feel capsaicin's burn, which helps them spread chili seeds.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"Hotter than the Carolina Reaper — the story of Pepper X."

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