There was a time when the mighty habanero was considered one of the hottest peppers on earth. Today though, it pales in comparison to some of the super hybrids that have made their way onto the scene. Now instead of hundreds of thousands on the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) capsaicin concentration scale, some chilis are clocking in in the millions.
What does that mean for your mouth? Well, for some of us it is pure pain. For others, especially those who love hot sauce, it is the definition of a culinary adventure. You wont find a jalapeño or a bell pepper on this list, that's for sure. What are the top 10 world's hottest peppers in 2017? Glad you asked. We consulted the
Bonus: Red Savina Habanero
500,000 Scoville Heat Units
So this is technically the 11th choice, but it's important to start with this one because in the early years of super-hot peppers, this habanero was the record holder as the world's hottest from 1994 to 2006.
It has since been dethroned, but it is still a delicious choice if you want a fiery hot option that you can actually enjoy.
10. Bhut Jolokia (The Ghost Pepper)
1,300,000 Scoville Heat Units
Although not necessarily the hottest, this chili pepper is super famous because of the onslaught of videos of the pepperheads trying to eat entire Ghost peppers. This is also the first chili to receive of Scoville rating of over 1 million.
9. 7 Pot Brain Strain
1,350,000 SHU
Believed to be closely rated to the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, one of the hotter world record holders, this super chili is surprisingly not a hybrid and is lauded for its purity as well as its heat intensity.
8. Naga Viper
1,349,000 Scoville Heat Units
This unique hybrid is an extremely rare pepper from the United Kingdom. Interestingly, it was never fully stabilized before its seeds were released so pod variation is likely if you encounter one of these. That doesn't mean it hasn't earned its place on the heat scale. It packs a fiery punch.
7. Komodo Dragon
1,400,000 Scoville Heat Units
Also from the United Kingdom, the Komodo Dragon is the latest variation of the 7 pot. How spicy will these variations get? It remains to be seen. However, its ability to produce extreme heat is what brings hobby growers back to this strain time and time again.
6. Trinidad Scorpion Butch T
1,463,700 Scoville Heat Units
Coming from Australia and named for the scorpion stinger growth at the tip, this insanely hot chili held a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2011.
5. 7 Pot Primo
1,473,480 Scoville Heat Units
With its scorpion-like tail and fluorescent coloring, this 7 pot primo was created by Troy Primeaux, a horticulturist from Louisiana, for no other reason than to shock and awe.
Surprisingly, this mega-hot pepper still has a fruity-floral flavor that you can taste over the heat.
4. 7 Pot Douglah
1,853,936 Scoville Heat Units
Terrifyingly hot, this pepper comes from Trinidad where it is said that one pod will spice seven pots of stew.
This chili is extremely rare in the wild and is the hottest pepper that you can find that isn't red.
3. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion
2,000,000 Scoville Heat Units
Run away. Although never certified as the hottest pepper by the Guinness Book of World Records, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion will sting you with the heat of 1,000 suns if you sample it.
2. Carolina Reaper
2,200,000 Scoville Heat Units
This pepper just looks mean. Created by Ed Currie, this pepper has an average SHU of over 1.5 million and peaks at 2.2 Million SHU.
On November 20, 2013, the Carolina Reaper was named the hottest pepper in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. However, it has finally met its match.
1. Dragon's Breath Chili
2,480,000 Scoville Heat Units
Now the hottest chili pepper in the world, this weapon's grade chili rings in at an astounding 2.48 million on the Scoville scale. Developed by hobby grower, Mike Smith and Nottingham Trent University, no one has yet to actually ingest this chili for fear of burning their airways.
It can send you into anaphylactic shock and was actually designed to be used as a topical anesthetic. Will you be the first to ingest it? This chili isn't officially in the Guinness World Records listing, but when the time comes, we know this new pepper will be the top.
