World's spiciest new pepper is hotter than police pepper spray
The 'Pepper X' is around three times hotter than the previous hottest pepper


There's a new spiciest chili pepper in the world: Pepper X, a small but fearsome plant that is hotter than most law-enforcement-grade pepper spray.
Guinness World Records unveiled the new record this past week, announcing that the Pepper X measures an average of 2.63 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). A typical jalapeño, for comparison, averages just 3,000 to 8,000 SHUs, according to Guinness. The prior record holder for the hottest pepper, the Carolina Reaper, averages around 1.64 million SHUs, making the Pepper X nearly twice as hot. However, the Scoville scale is "logarithmic, so it's more like three times hotter than a Reaper," said Ed Currie, the creator of both the Pepper X and Carolina Reaper.
The majority of police-used pepper sprays "have a pungency of 500,000 to 2 million SHUs," according to the Police Policy Studies Council, making the Pepper X significantly hotter. However, the council noted that some pepper sprays can get up to 5.3 million SHUs.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Currie introduced the Pepper X on an episode of the YouTube show "Hot Ones," and said that when eating one, "there's an intense burn that happens immediately ... you get it in your arms, you get it in your chest." He told The Associated Press that after he ate the pepper on "Hot Ones," he was "feeling the heat for three-and-a-half hours. Then the cramps came," adding that he "laid out flat on a marble wall for approximately an hour in the rain."
The Pepper X was not designed to be eaten on its own, but Currie noted that it is extremely intense even when used for cooking. The spice is also difficult to come by, as "while you can snag a variety of hot sauces containing the hottest pepper" on Currie's website, Fast Company reported, "they don’t sell the peppers or the seeds to grow your own."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
What does the Le Pen verdict mean for the future of French politics?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Convicted of embezzlement and slapped with a five year ban on running for public office, where does arch-conservative Marine Le Pen go from here — and will the movement she leads follow?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Discount stores were thriving. How did they stumble?
The Explainer Blame Walmart — and inflation
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Kaja Kallas: the EU's new chief diplomat shaping the future of European defense
In the Spotlight Former Estonian Prime Minister's status as an uncompromising Russia hawk has gone from liability to strength
By David Faris Published
-
Cherry blossom season: Washington diners’ happy time
feature The five best spots to enjoy the festivities
By The Week US Published
-
10 upcoming albums to stream in the hazy spring
The Week Recommends Ring in the end of the cold weather with some new music
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
These 8 restaurants bring spring to your table
The Week Recommends An array of cuisines at noteworthy restaurants across the US
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Critics’ choice: Fine dining worth stepping up to
Feature Celebrity chefs share a kitchen, a ‘spa-like’ lounge, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Museum exhibitions across the globe are in artful bloom this spring. These are 5 to experience.
The Week Recommends See treasures from ancient Japan, Versailles and the Forbidden City
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
25 things Andrew Tate has said about women
IN DEPTH The accused rapist and sex trafficking influencer has a long and well-documented history of commercializing his misogyny for an audience of susceptible young men
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
10 concert tours to see this spring
The Week Recommends As winter comes to an end, check out a variety of live performances
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Road trip: New England’s maple syrup season
Feature New England is serving up maple syrup in delicious and unexpected ways
By The Week US Published