The hottest peppers in the world include the Ghost Pepper and Carolina Reaper, and new chilies continue to come through. Learn about these superhot varieties in this collection of spicy pepper content.
Top 10 Hottest Peppers List (2023)
All of these superhot peppers rank over 1 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). (For reference, an orange habanero goes up to 325,000 SHU.)
Hottest Peppers Fast Facts
- Carolina Reaper, 2.2 million SHU
- Chocolate Bhutlah, ~2 million SHU
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, 1.2 million to 2 million SHU
- 7 Pot Douglah, 1,853,986 SHU
- Dorset Naga, 1.5 million SHU
- 7 Pot Primo, 1,473,480 SHU
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, 1,463,700 SHU
- Komodo Dragon, 1,400,000 SHU
- Naga Viper, 1,382,118 SHU
- 7 Pot Brain Strain, 1,350,000 SHU
» Want to grow these peppers? Check out Growing Peppers from Seed to Harvest – The Ultimate Guide
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1. Carolina Reaper 2.2 Million SHU
From: USA
Officially the world’s hottest pepper as certified by Guinness World Records.
» RELATED – Carolina Reaper: Scoville, Where to Buy & Growing Guide
2. Chocolate Bhutlah ~2 Million SHU
From: USA
Cross between the Ghost pepper and the Douglah 7 pod.
» RELATED – Chocolate Bhutlah: Is it Hotter Than the Carolina Reaper?
3. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion 1.2 to 2 Million SHU
From: Trinidad
In 2012, New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute named the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion the hottest pepper at that time.
4. 7 Pot Douglah 1,853,986 SHU
From: Trinidad
One pepper is said to heat seven pots of stew.
5. Dorset Naga 1.5 Million SHU
From: UK
Derived from the Naga Morich, which is a very hot pepper from Bangladesh.
6. 7 Pot Primo 1,473,480 SHU
7. Trinidad Scorpion Butch T 1,463,700 SHU
From: Trinidad, USA and Australia
Previous record holder of the world’s hottest pepper in 2011.
8. Komodo Dragon 1.4 Million SHU
From: UK
This super hot pepper is known for its “delayed reaction” where at first you enjoy the hot fruitiness, and after 10 seconds, the full force of its heat hits you.
(Image by Db6667, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
9. Naga Viper 1,382,118 SHU
From: UK
Unstable cross of three peppers: Bhut Jolokia (Ghost pepper), Naga Morich and Trinidad Scorpion. Briefly held the world’s hottest pepper title in 2011.
10. 7 Pot Brain Strain 1.35 Million SHU
From: USA
Developed by selective breeding of the 7 pot pepper from Trinidad. Besides the insane heat, pods are known for their bumpy texture, which looks like the human brain.
Carolina reaper scoville notes
On average, the Carolina Reaper Scoville scores 1,641,183 SHU, and on the top end, it hits 2,200,000 SHU. Check out the ultimate guide to the Carolina Reaper for how this pepper compares to other chilies on the Scoville scale and more.
Unofficial Hottest Peppers
There’s always another “hottest pepper in the world” on the scene. Preliminary testing shows that Pepper X (3.18 Scoville units) and the Dragon’s Breath chili (2,483,584 SHU) could potentially be hotter than the Carolina Reaper Scoville level. Official testing needs to be done before we add it to our list of hottest peppers.
Ghost Pepper Scoville Rating
The Ghost chile (Bhut Jolokia) isn’t one of the top 10 hottest peppers, but it deserves a mention because it’s a major record-breaker. Specifically, the Ghost pepper was the first chile to rank at over 1 million SHUs when it topped the scale at 1,041,427.
Since then, the term “super hots” or “superhots” is used to describe peppers that also rank over 1 million Scovilles. Check out the guide to different types of Ghost peppers to learn all about these chillies.
Where To Buy The Hottest Peppers & Products
Looking for fresh hot peppers, seeds or popular challenges like the Paqui Carolina Reaper chip? Below, are lists of curated products in these categories.
Fresh Hot Peppers, Seeds & Plants
Whole Fresh Pepper Pods
Variety of hot peppers (fresh & dried). Options vary by season.
Hottest Hot Sauces
» Related – Hot Sauce Scoville Scale: Ranking 11 Sauces By Heat
Spicy Challenges
Contains two of the hottest peppers — Carolina Reaper & Ghost pepper — in one chip.
» Related: 53 Best Gifts for Hot Sauce Lovers & Spicy Food Fans
How To Use Super Hot Peppers
So what do you do with super hots? Here’s a collection of recipes from our spicy kitchen to give you some ideas. 🔥
Spicy Kitchen
53 Perfect Gifts for Hot Sauce Lovers (2023)
Here are the best gifts for hot sauce lovers in 2023. Find hot sauce gift packs and other spicy ideas that will thrill any heat seeker.
24 Recipes Using Habanero Peppers That Really Bring the Heat
Here's 24 recipes using Habanero peppers for spicy food lovers! From fiery margaritas, appetizers, Habanero dinner recipes and more, you'll find so many options.
Hot Sauce Scoville Scale: Ranking 11 Sauces By Heat
Here's how 11 sauces score on the hot sauce Scoville scale. These hot sauces ranked by heat go from mild to nuclear. See the rating of your fave hot sauce & discover new ones.
Spicy Gummy Bear Recipe with Juice
This spicy gummy bear recipe uses your favorite juice and peppers to create fiery candy. You can make these hot pepper gummies with gelatin or Agar for a vegan option.
Paleo Scotch Bonnet Jerk Marinade
Want a Paleo version of the delicious Jamaican Jerk marinade? Scotch Bonnet peppers and aromatic spices create a fiery seasoning for chicken, fish, veggies and more.
Spicy Margarita Recipe: Habanero, Lime and Patron Tequila
Love drinks with a kick? This spicy margarita recipe features the deliciously hot habanero pepper. This is a quick, easy & super flavorful cocktail!
11 Cayenne Pepper Substitute Options You Can Use In a Pinch
If you run out of cayenne powder, here are 11 substitutes you can use instead. This list includes both fresh and dry pepper alternatives.
Types Of Hot Peppers
So, what do super hot peppers taste like, and how do you grow them? These articles answer these questions and more.
World’s Hottest Peppers
What Makes Peppers Hot? (+ Why They Can Make You Feel Drunk!)
What makes peppers hot? Let's dig into some chile chemistry to learn where capsaicin is found in a pepper & discover why eating spicy food can make you feel drunk!
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion: Scoville, Seeds & Pepper Grow Guide
At a scorching 2 million SHU, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is one of the world’s hottest peppers. Learn where to buy these peppers, how to grow them and more.
Ghost Pepper Plant Scoville, Colors and [Updated] Growing Guide
The ghost pepper (Bhut Jolokia) comes in more than just the red ghost pepper variety. Read about the ghost chili Scoville, its colors and how to grow ghost peppers in pots.
What Is the Scoville Scale for Peppers?
The Scoville scale measures the heat level of chile peppers. Learn how this spicy scale works and discover how your favorite peppers all compare in heat levels.
Carolina Reaper: All About the Hottest Pepper [+ Germination Video]
The Carolina Reaper is officially the world's hottest pepper. Find out all about the Reaper pepper and discover how you can grow your own Carolina Reapers from seed.
Where Do the Hottest Peppers in the World Come From?
Nuclear hot chillies come from many different places. Here's a list of some of the hottest peppers in the world where each pepper has a rating of over 1 milliion Scoville Heat Units (SHU) or more.
Chocolate Bhutlah: Is it Hotter Than the Carolina Reaper?
Heard about the Chocolate Bhutlah? If you love super hots, read on! Here, we discuss whether this Bhutlah pepper is hotter than the Carolina Reaper, along with other info you don't want to miss!
FAQs On Superhots
Your Next Step
If you like the vibe around here, be sure to check out these pages:
- New to the site? Here’s the Start page to help you find what you want.
- Ready to grow chilies? Here’s the Growing Peppers page for each part of the growing process.
- Need tool recommendations? Here’s the Pepper Growing Supplies page for everything you need to start growing.
