Carolina Reaper

Carolina Reaper by Rocalba, the hottest pepper in the world

Carolina Reaper is according to the Guinness World Record, the hottest pepper in the world since 2013. On the Scoville scale of hotness measurement, it can reach up to 2,200,000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units), similar to the pepper gas.

This extremely hot pepper was developed from a cross between Red Habanero and Bhut Jolokia by Ed Currie of PuckerButt Pepper Company (South Carolina, US). Ed Currie was not looking to create the hottest pepper in the world, but a variety loaded with capsaicinoids, a family of compounds that have been used in pharmaceuticals for certain treatments of cancer or heart disease.

Carolina Reaper hot chilli, easy and productive cultivation

Carolina Reaper cultivation is similar to the other varieties, with the most important point being the temperature control above 14ºC. The germination should be controlled between 28-30ºC. It is certainly a pleasant experience under optimal growing conditions. The ideal harvest time is between late summer and early autumn, depending on how ripened the pepper is desired.

Ed Currie, the breeder of this variety, describes the first time he tasted this pepper he fell to his knees on the ground. This is certainly no exaggeration, as tasting a Carolina Reaper is akin to putting your mouth inside a volcano.

Initially it has a sweetness that contrasts with the inherent and ineffable spiciness. Even with this sweetness, sauces can be elaborated. After tasting it, citric acid may be one of the few solutions for not travelling to hell for at least half an hour.