You have spice that makes you cry a little, the mouth stings and then, after a few minutes, the effects go away. If we measure this spice on a Scoville Scale (a specific scale made for measuring spice levels), then it will probably lie between 100 to 2,500 SHU (Scoville Heat Unit). Then comes the next level of top chilli peppers that even the Guinness Book of World Records has certified.
Here, we give you an overview of the 10 hottest chilli peppers in the world. These are not for the faint-hearted; they're so hot they'll make your taste buds break a sweat, from the good old Carolina Reaper to ghost peppers and the latest addition to the list.
So, what are the top 10 spiciest peppers? Let’s find out…
#1 – King of the Throne – Pepper X
Scoville Scale Reading: up to 2,693,000 SHU
A new contender dethroned the OG pepper, the Carolina Reaper, back in 2023. Pepper X is now at the head of the top 10 hottest chilli peppers in the world, recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records. Ed Currie, the same mastermind behind the Carolina Reaper, is the creator of this brutally hot pepper. Ed cultivated Pepper X on his farm for over 10 years, skilfully crossbreeding it with some of the spiciest peppers in his arsenal to ramp up its capsaicin content. The result? A pepper that causes intense burning followed by intestinal cramps for four to six hours if eaten as a whole. Sounds yummy, right? It actually is, if used sparingly – and House of Habanero stocks one of Ed's Pepper X sauces exclusively in the UAE.
#2 – Carolina Reaper
Scoville Scale Reading: 1,400,000 to 2,200,000 SHU
For a decade, Carolina Reaper enjoyed its position as the hottest known chilli pepper in the world. Known to be 400 times hotter than a jalapeno, this gnarly red pepper owes its existence to the aforementioned Ed Currie, also the founder of the PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina.
This hybrid pepper is the result of a spicy rendezvous between a red habanero and a Naga Viper pepper. The outcome is a pepper that not only packs a punch but also surprises your tastebuds with great flavour. At first you experience fruity and even sweet flavours, followed by mind-boggling heat that lingers and lingers.
Find a range of Carolina Reaper-based sauces on House of Habanero, including the locally made Reap'racha.
#3 – Trinidad Moruga Scorpion
Scoville Scale Reading: up to 2,009,231 SHU
Running close behind the Carolina Reaper, we have another hot pepper that has crossed the threshold of 2 million SHU. This fiery contender, born on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, specifically the village of Moruga on the central south coast, holds a heat to be reckoned with.
Much like its spicy peers, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion doesn't hit you right away. Instead, it takes its time, slowly building up from sweet to fruity and then the fire. Brace yourself for hiccups, sweating, even a spot of numbness. The name Moruga Scorpion is given because the pepper has a scorpion-like tail.
UAE-born Camp's Kitchen has the delicious Blue Scorpion, which mixes in this pepper.
#4 – 7 Pot Douglah
Scoville Scale Reading: 923,889 to 1,853,986 SHU
Coming in at number four, we've got the 7 Pot Douglah, affectionately known as the Chocolate 7 Pot. Now, the name has a meaningful origin – it comes from the Trinidad word "dougla", referring to a person of mixed African and Indian descent. This pepper is unique because instead of transitioning from green to red (like other contenders on the list), it turns green to chocolate brown, which also gives the pepper a nutty flavour.
Now, obviously the smokey, nutty and fruity flavours are followed by the wicked heat. This combination has made it a favourite among chilli enthusiasts who crave both intense heat and a delicious taste.
Get a taste of that heat in El Jefe's Jamaican Hot Chocolate Pepper Sauce.
#5 – 7-Pot Primo
Scoville Scale Reading: up to 1,473,480 SHU
The 7-Pot Primo is not your everyday spice – it's a crossbreed between the Naga Morich and Trinidad 7-Pot. To avoid any mix-up with its fellow 7-Pot peers, this pepper often goes by the moniker Primo, a nod to its inventive creator and horticulturist Troy Primeaux, who started experimenting in 2005. The 7-Pot Primo proudly displays a scorpion-like tail and the iconic bumpy, pimply skin that's typical of super-hot chilli peppers.
Ed Currie's Unique Garlique mashes some 7-Pot Primo up with Carolina Reaper AND Trinidad Scorpion for a super-hot mix.
#6 – Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T”
Scoville Scale Reading: 800,000 to 1,463,700 SHU
Unlike some peppers with a more local story, this one has a global presence, originating from the Caribbean region of Trinidad and Tobago. The "Butch T" name comes from its creator, Butch Taylor, a hot sauce enthusiast from Mississippi who founded Zydeco Hot Sauce. Interestingly, it got its commercial name in Australia from Neil Smith of the Hippy Seed Company and Marcel de Wit of the Chilli Factory.
Beyond its spicy reputation, the Trinidad Scorpion "Butch T" brings a different flavour profile to the table, featuring floral, citrusy and fruity notes. It's the perfect combination of sweet and hot, making it a flavourful addition to the world of spicy peppers.
Try Heartbeat's Scorpion from House of Habanero's range.
#7 – Naga Viper
Scoville Scale Reading: up to 1,349,000 SHU
Next on our list of the top 10 chilli peppers in the world is the Naga Viper. This chilli doesn't beat around the bush – its name, combining "Naga" (cobra snake in Sanskrit) and "viper" (a venomous snake in English), gives you an idea of what lies ahead.
What makes the Naga Viper special is that it's a hybrid of three of the hottest peppers: the Naga Morich, Trinidad Scorpion and Bhut Jolokia (or ghost pepper). Each of these peppers is hot on its own and when they join forces, you get the potent heat of the Naga Viper. Credit for this fiery creation goes to Gerald Fowler of The Chilli Company in the UK, who spent years perfecting its extreme spiciness.
An interesting note: Both the Naga Morich and the ghost pepper start with a hint of sweetness – a floral touch from the Morich and an earthy flavour from the ghost. But give it a hot minute and the heat kicks right in.
Wiltshire Chilli Farm's Coffee Chilli Sauce has a spot of Naga in it.
# 8 – Ghost Pepper
Scoville Scale Reading: average of 1,000,000 SHU
Now at the eighth spot, we have the ghost pepper, famously known as the Bhut Jolokia. This chilli, hailing from India, has made quite a name for itself and was even crowned as the world's hottest pepper for a while.
The Bhut Jolokia is a compact chilli, usually red or orange and sporting either bumpy or smooth skin. It’s around 2.5 to 3.5 inches in length and 1 inch in width, roughly thumb-sized. What makes it special is its thinner skin compared to many other chillies. Unlike jalapeños, where half of the spiciness is in the vein or pith, the ghost pepper splits its heat evenly between the vein and the flesh. Translation: you can't escape the heat when you cook with these little firecrackers.
Assam, by Clark + Hopkins, blends the ghost pepper with some 7-pot primo for a tasty sauce inspired by the eponymous north Indian state.
#9 – 7-Pot Barrackpore
Scoville Scale Reading: average of 1,000,000 SHU
Just a tad bit milder than its predecessor, this pepper measures around 1,000,000 Scoville Heat Units. Its name is a nod to its hometown in Trinidad. When you take a bite of the 7-Pot Barrackpore, get ready for a unique flavour combo of bitter and fruity notes. Unlike its fellow 7-Pot peppers, this one stands out with a larger size and more wrinkles, adding a bit of personality.
#10 – 7-Pot Brain Strain
Scoville Scale Reading: average of 1,000,000 SHU
In 2010, David Capiello took the seeds of the 7-Pot Brain Strain from Trinidad to the US for the first time. This pepper is not a mix of different species; instead, it's the result of careful, selective breeding. The original breeders chose chilli pods with specific traits to create this unique pepper.
Taking it a step further, David selectively bred 7-Pot peppers over seasons, focusing on plants with "brain-like" features – a grainy texture, folded, wrinkly and bulbous. The result? A super-hot pepper that literally looks like a brain, both on the inside and outside.
So, now you know what the top 10 spiciest peppers are. From the relatively recent addition of the Pepper X to the venomous aftermath of the Naga Viper, every chilli on this list brings something new for spice lovers.
Try the hottest of these top 10 hottest chilli peppers in the world in sauces for sale on House of Habanero (diluted, of course) and wait for the heat to arrive.