Get the latest news about Pepper X, currently the Hottest Pepper in the World, averaging 2,693,000 Million Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale. Updated 10/16/2023.
Pepper X is the Hottest Pepper in the World as of October 2023.
If you’ve been anywhere in the chilehead world lately, you’ve probably already heard about the new “Pepper X”, a contender for the Hottest Chili Pepper in the World.
As of October 2023, Pepper X has now been officially tested and recognized as the hottest pepper in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records.
What is Pepper X?
"Pepper X" is the temporary name for the chili pepper bred by Ed Currie of Puckerbutt Pepper Company, the same man behind the creation of the Carolina Reaper.
According to Ed, he crossed multiple peppers to achieve a pepper hotter than the Carolina Reaper, the current hottest, which measures over 2 Million Scoville Heat Units, with an average of 1.64 Million SHU.
According to Ed Currie, “Pepper X is three times hotter than any other peppers that are out there available commercially. It’s twice as hot as the Reaper at 1.6 million, so this is a dangerous pepper.”
He has spent 10 years developing this pepper.
How Hot is Pepper X?
Pepper X averages 2,693,000 Million Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale. Some reports put it at 3.18 Million Scoville Heat Units, well above the Carolina Reaper.
For comparison, the Carolina Reaper measures in at 2,200,000 Scoville HEat Units (SHU) with an average of 1.64 Million SHU. The Bhut Jolokia (aka Ghost Pepper), measures in at 1,001,304 Scoville Heat Units.
A typical jalapeno pepper averages about 5,000 Scoville Heat Units.
Learn more about the Scoville Scale here.
Is Pepper X Officially the Hottest Pepper in the World?
Yes, Pepper X is officially the hottest pepper in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The Scoville score was calculated by Winthrop University in South Carolina, who conducted tests using peppers from the past four years.
This comes nearly 4 years after I was personally told word would come by November of 2019.
Congratulations, Ed!
What is the Current Hottest Pepper in the World?
The previous Hottest Chili Pepper in the World was the Carolina Reaper, which measures over 2 Million Scoville Heat Units at the top end of the scale.
Learn more about the Carolina Reaper here.
Pepper X Hot Sauce
While we’re not currently able to taste test this pepper for ourselves, you can purchase a hot sauce called “The Last Dab” made with Pepper X peppers, which is a collaboration between Ed Currie and The Heatonist founder Noah Chaimberg.
Here is information from the web site:
One Dab to rule them all. The Last Dab. When Sean Evans and the Hot Ones team were looking for a sauce to deliver the final sendoff, to squeeze the last juicy secrets from their guests, they knew that no known pepper would do. So they came to HEATONIST. We partnered with Guinness World Record holding pepper breeder Smokin' Ed Currie to create a sauce using his latest creation: Pepper X. More than simple mouth burn, Pepper X singes your soul. Starting with a pleasant burn in the mouth, the heat passes quickly, lulling you into a false confidence. You take another bite, enjoying the mustard and spice flavors. This would be great on jerk chicken, or Indian food! But then, WHAM! All of a sudden your skin goes cold and your stomach goes hot, and you realize the power of X. ** Limit 2 per order **
Ingredients:
Pepper X peppers, distilled vinegar, ginger root, turmeric, coriander, cumin, dry mustard
- Buy The Classic Hot Sauce: Pepper X Edition from the Heatonist (Amazon Affiliate Link, my friends!)
Check out the video at First We Feast of people trying “The Last Dab” hot sauce: https://firstwefeast.com/eat/hot-ones-hot-sauce-the-last-dab
Thanks to both Ed Currie and Noah at The Heatonist for sending along the photo and information.
I’ll be sure to post more information as it becomes available. Please let me know if you have any questions and I’ll see if I can answer them for you, or find the information to help. – Mike H.
Relevant Links
- What is the Hottest Chili Pepper in the World?
- List of Hottest Chili Peppers in the World
- Scoville Scale
NOTE: This page was updated on 10/17/23 to include new information. It was originally published on 2/23/18.
Ed Moder says
I just saw this on the internet and was writing you when I realized that you already saw it. LOL
Mike Hultquist says
Oh yeah!
Nick says
Was this pepper formerly known as Pepper Twitter?
Mike Hultquist says
I don't believe so.
Al says
I like hot peppers, but there is a limit to how much heat one can take. I know it's an individual choice, but there surely no need for such extremes. A knife tip of Dave's Insanity Sauce in a bowl of stew is enough for me.
Mike Hultquist says
A lot of people feel the same way.
Kent says
Thank for the news Mike. My Scoville pepper sign is now obsolete. My Reaper hot sauce scares me, I will pass on the Pepper X hot sauce.
Mike Hultquist says
I hear you, Kent! Crazy heat!
Jackie Smalley says
I just watched the clip with Ed. Indeed, dangerous - and lethal to the uninitiated! I give the guy kudos, but hearing his interview surely had some people moaning "WHY?" Those little buggers should have been bred with a skull and crossbones pattern on the skins!! WOW!
Dorky says
I've grown super-hots for years. No problems getting 90-100% germination with 7-pot dougla, trinidad moruga scorpion, or ghost seeds from NuMex. I tried to germinate carolina reapers from puckerbutt 2 years running when they showed up and nothing, just bad seeds, and of course no guarantees because super-hots are "hard to germinate". BS. Everyone I know who grew them got their seeds elsewhere after somebody managed to grow a few plants.
Seeds are stupidly high cost, supposedly because of low seed count... But all of my plants of other varieties produced such an obscene number of peppers it wouldn't matter even on business scale with 2-3 plants. Burpee has high cost hybrid seeds for various plants too, but they guarantee their products and will send replacements on good faith but I've never had non-germinating seeds from them. Numex guarantees their own varieties, which are also extremely reliable.
I strongly suspect if there *is* a pepper-x / apollo, it's either:
1) A seedless / unstable, possibly sterile hybrid between two other types of pepper.
2) A polyploid mutation induced in the seedlings of something else that accidentally produced higher heat. Germinate tons of seeds, cull the non-triploids which are immediately visible, and you've got a mutant that produces peppers but not saleable seeds. I've done it 2 years running with mini sweet bells to produce thicker-flesh, it's not hard. I haven't tried it with a hot variety because I'm not that bored and our season isn't long enough to pull it off, I just luck out on outdoor-germinated seeds by planting hundreds.
My *real* theory is that these just don't exist. Make up some sauce with an extant variety, toss in a little pure capsaicin (it's cheap despite the pepper sites reaming people on it, I had a local compounding pharmacist offer to just *give* me a small jar when i struck up conversation about what i needed so many nitrile gloves for) to push the scoville rating way up, and keep claiming you're waiting for verification to sell high-priced sauce.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Pepper-X. I appreciate it.
Nick Geary says
I just received a bottle of 'Gator Sauce' from Puckerbutt. While not pure Pepper X mash, it is the primary ingredient. The sauce carries with serious heat. Beginning to prefer it to the Reaper Squeezins.
https://puckerbuttpeppercompany.com/products/gator-squeezins
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice!!
Ron L says
It has been years, It does not take years to check a pepper. I would like to know why the seeds have not been for sale . I think it is all a scam to sell this hot sauce that cost way to much . I feel that the pepper's and seeds should be out for sale by now, It has been way to long .
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Ron, I have had no further news on the Pepper X.
coronavirus taylor says
I am growing a carolina reaper right now and man there hot wonder if pepper x is fake or not
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I haven't received any further updates regarding the Pepper X at this time.
Sunny says
Its still unnamed right? If I could give a suggestion as for what to call it I would call it the Caliente Verde Pepper, since that means the hot green pepper.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Yes, Sunny, still unnamed as far I have heard or read. I like your suggestion!
Helge says
In the article its said that the reaper is the currently hottest pepper with about 2 mill SHU. What about «dragons breath» from 2017 with 2,5 mill SHU? Is that one not tested and prooven the hottest?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Helge, that pepper was not officially tested or propagated, so the Reaper remains the official hottest in the world at this time. Thanks for stopping by!
TROY SCHALLITZ says
It has not been confirmed to be hotter than the Reaper no. Although it was claimed, this claim is unsubstantiated.
Chris says
I've grown Dragons Breath chillies this season and all the people I've given them to say its definitely hotter than Carolina Reeper.
There's also another contender called armageddon I've tried these myself and they are super hot. I've got the seeds from these ready for next years season.
Bryce says
So i seen this etsy page supposively selling pepper x seeds im assuming this is a scam Ed Currie is the only one that has the seeds am i correct?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I believe so, Bryce. I don't believe anyone is authorized to sell Pepper X seeds other than Ed Currie's company.
Jonathan Mason says
I think it's a hoax because you can find it on YouTube anymore and the search engine it just takes you to unrelated stuff
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
A lot of people are feeling this way, it seems. Still no new word, unfortunately.
Ron L says
There is a website that has seeds in a package that says PEPPER X. They are from UK. I have plants going now and waiting for them to get ripe to see if these are hotter then the reaper. They are looking just like the reaper as of now..
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hey, Ron. I'm not sure of the legitimacy of anyone actually selling Pepper X seeds.
Ron L says
If there is a pepper x you telling me that over the years that no one could get any seeds out . Do they do strip search when these people leave there work place, NO. This is all a scam to sell the LAST DAB. It has been years and it would not be that hard for someone to get seeds out from there...
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hard for me to really comment on it, Ron, as I haven't had any new information. I appreciate your comments and perspective.
Michael says
Any news on when and where we can get the pepper x seeds?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I have an email out to Ed asking for an update. I hope to hear back soon. I don't see any of the seeds available yet through their site.
Maor says
Wonder it thats legit:
https://frabco.com/products/10-hot-pepper-seeds-worlds-hottest-pepper-x?variant=19261872078917