Hottest Chilies in the World

Author: Soumya Jain

Are you a pepperhead always in search of that hot chili to dunk in? Here’s a list of some of world’s hottest chilies.

By: Soumya Jain

Not many can digest hot, spicy food. But those who can, can’t live without that stack of chilies in their refrigerator. As a service to all those who are on top of their chili game, here’s a list of world’s top 10 chilies! But keep in mind, the world of chilies is ever-updating. So a disclaimer: new, hotter chilies might have been discovered by the time you read this.

Before we go on to the list, it’s important to understand the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU), which is a way of calculating how spicy a pepper is by measuring the concentration of capsaicinoids in a chili. Capsaicin is the chemical responsible for the spicy sensation within a pepper.

So, keep some yogurt by your side as you read this list!

  1. Carolina Reaper - 2,200,000 SHU: To put things in perspective, the Carolina Reaper is 200x hotter than a Jalapeno! This tiny pepper has a unique tail – might we call it deadly – unlike any other pepper. Oddly, this pepper doesn’t just have heat, but excellent fruity flavor to add on. Of course, taste it at your own risk!
  2. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion - 2,009,231 SHU: It might not look as intimidating as the Carolina Reaper, but the Trinidad Scorpion Moruga Blend, AKA Moruga Scorpion, is a rare sought after pepper that was only just recently discovered. Native to the lands of Moruga in Trinidad and Tobago, this one is almost as hot as The Carolina Reaper.
  3. 7 Pot Douglah - 1,853,936 SHU: Don’t be befooled by its innocent brown color. The 7 Pot Douglah, also known as Chocolate 7 Pod or the 7 Pot Brown, because of its color I guess, is one of the hottest peppers with the best flavor. You can’t go wrong with fresh, dried, or powdered Douglah on any food. Just try a pinch.
  4. 7 Pot Primo - 1,469,000 SHU: Sporting an appearance similar to the Carolina Reaper, with a slim tail, the 7 Pot Primo was created by horticulturist Troy Primeaux. Needless to say, it is insanely hot!
  5. Trinidad Scorpion "Butch T" - 1,463,700 SHU: No, this one is not from Trinidad & Tobago, but instead from Australia. Also sporting a thicker Scorpio stinger below, the burn from this pepper is unlike any other. Try at your own risk!
  6. Naga Viper - 1,349,000 SHU: One of the more famous varieties of chilies, Naga Viper is an extremely rare pepper cultivated in the UK. This Super Hot pepper has enjoyed a variety of pod designs over the years.

7. Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia) - 1,041,427 SHU: The Ghost Pepper, or Bhut Jolokia, as we call it in India, is the most famous chili due to the amount of press it has received in the past. It was the first pepper to scientifically test over 1 million scovilles. So many think that Bhut Jolokia is still the World’s Hottest pepper, but that isn’t true anymore. Indigenous to North Eastern India, Bhut Jolokia is used quite a bit in the region’s cuisine.

  1. 7 Pot Barrackpore - ~1,000,000 SHU: The 7 Pot Barrackpore is one of the hottest of the 7 Pot category of peppers. Also hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, this one is no less dangerous.
  2. 7 Pot Red (Giant) - ~1,000,000 SHU: Interestingly, The 7 Pots peppers were named after their ability to heat up 7 pots of stew and that they do! Don’t think this fiery little ball can’t do any magic!
  3. Red Savina Habanero - 500,000 SHU: One of the first to be known as a super hot pepper, the Red Savina Habanero is still coveted by pepper enthusiasts. Now at the end of the list, this smoother textured chili is not lesser in demand in any way!

*Reference for the article: pepperhead.com