Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Botany

Carolina Reaper

The Carolina Reaper is a superhot chili pepper cultivar of *Capsicum chinense* developed by breeder Ed Currie in South Carolina, United States.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The Carolina Reaper is a superhot chili pepper cultivar of *Capsicum chinense* bred by Ed Currie in South Carolina. It held the Guinness World Record for the world’s hottest chili pepper from 2013 until 2023.

What it is

The Carolina Reaper is a small, wrinkled, bright red pepper with a distinctive pointed tail. It belongs to the same species as many habanero-type peppers (*Capsicum chinense*) and is one of the most recognizable superhot peppers due to its extreme heat and unusual appearance.

Why it matters

The Carolina Reaper became famous for its record-breaking heat, averaging about 1.6 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU) and peaking above 2.2 million SHU. It held the Guinness World Record for hottest chili pepper for a decade, influencing the market for extreme hot sauces and spicy food challenges.

Key details

Bred by Ed Currie of PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina, the pepper is commonly described as a cross between a Pakistani Naga and a red habanero. It is mainly used in hot sauces, novelty products, and spice challenges rather than everyday cooking. Canadian readers may encounter it in specialty hot sauces and imported extreme-spice products.

In short

  • Cultivar of *Capsicum chinense* bred by Ed Currie in South Carolina.
  • Held Guinness World Record for hottest chili pepper, 2013–2023.
  • Average heat around 1.6 million SHU; peaks over 2.2 million SHU.
  • Mainly used in hot sauces and extreme-spice products.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may encounter the Carolina Reaper in specialty hot sauces, imported peppers, and extreme-spice food products sold in Canada.

Quick questions

What is the Carolina Reaper?
A superhot chili pepper cultivar of *Capsicum chinense* bred by Ed Currie in South Carolina.
How hot is the Carolina Reaper?
It averages about 1.6 million Scoville Heat Units, with some peppers exceeding 2.2 million SHU.
Was it ever the world’s hottest pepper?
Yes. Guinness World Records recognized it as the hottest chili pepper from 2013 until 2023.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Reaper
    Supports: General identity as a *Capsicum chinense* cultivar, breeder, appearance, and Guinness record timeline.
  2. Gardenia — https://www.gardenia.net/plant/capsicum-chinense-carolina-reaper-pepper
    Supports: Botanical name, physical description, heat level, breeder, origin, and record claim.
  3. Flower Database — https://www.flower-db.com/en/flowers/capsicum-chinense-carolina-reaper
    Supports: Scientific name, family, origin, breeder, and Guinness recognition.
  4. American Gardener — https://www.americangardener.net/carolina-reaper/
    Supports: Species classification, hybrid parentage, and approximate SHU range.
  5. PepperScale — https://pepperscale.com/carolina-reaper/
    Supports: Heat levels, breeder, flavour/use in hot sauces, and record status.