Carolina Reaper
- Origin
- USA, South Carolina
- Scoville Heat Units
- 1 400 000 - 2 200 000 SHU
- Flavor
- Fruity
- Color
- Red
- Shape
- Round and wrinkled
Description
The Carolina Reaper, created by grower Ed Curlin in Rock Hill, South Carolina, held the Guinness World Record for the world's hottest pepper from 2013 to 2023. Its bright red, heavily wrinkled pods feature a characteristic scorpion-like tail. Despite extreme heat exceeding 1.4 million SHU, it opens with a surprisingly fruity and sweet flavor before unleashing overwhelming heat, and is the benchmark ingredient for extreme hot sauces.