Carolina Reaper

extremeFresh

1,400,000-2,200,000 SHU

Origin

South Carolina (USA), a modern cultivar.

Uses

Almost exclusively for extreme challenges and ultra-potent sauces measured by the drop. In real cooking, a minute speck is enough to set an entire pot ablaze; always handle it with gloves.

About this chile

For years the world's hottest. Handle with respect. It was bred by Ed Currie, of the PuckerButt Pepper Company, in South Carolina, and held the Guinness record for the planet's hottest chilli from 2013 to 2023. Its most recognisable trait is the "scorpion tail", that sharp, wrinkled point that finishes off the pod. It is wise to wear gloves when handling it: the capsaicin oil clings to skin and burns for hours.