What Is The Hottest Pepper In The World
Rachel Ellis
Updated on April 05, 2026
The hottest pepper in the world is Pepper X with over 50% more heat than the Carolina Reaper.
Both peppers are creations of farmer Ed Currie, who also runs PuckerButt hot sauce company.
Pepper heat is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU);
With Pepper X hitting an astonishing 2.7 million SHU, while a jalapeno scores just 5,000 SHU.
For context, police pepper spray is around 1.6 million SHU, and bear spray rates about 2.2 million.
Ed Currie dedicated a decade to developing Pepper X, known for delivering immediate, intense heat.
Ed Currie’s enduring passion for peppers takes center stage in the Netflix documentary “We Are the Champions.”
This captivating film delves into offbeat and surprisingly motivational competitions.
Specifically, it focuses on Currie’s role as the host of the annual Pepper Eating Challenge.
On social media, he’s widely recognized as “Smokin’ Ed.”
Remarkably, only five individuals have consumed a whole Pepper X.
