Pepper X has successfully claimed the title of the world’s hottest pepper, scoring 2,693,000 Scoville Sharpness Units (SHU). It beats the Carolina Reaper pepper, which has a score of 1.64 million SHU.
The creator of Pepper X is Ed Curry, a famous pepper breeder and founder of the PuckerButt Pepper Company, also known as the author of the Carolina Reaper.
Pepper X has been rumored for several years to be the hottest pepper on Earth, but it is only now that it has officially earned that title and has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The main component that gives the pepper its pungency is capsaicin. This is a chemical that plants produce to protect them from being eaten by animals. But humans have developed an addiction to the substance and feel a rush of endorphins when consuming it in certain amounts.
