Pepper X is set to take the crown for the world’s hottest pepper, dethroning the official record holder the Carolina Reaper.
The pepper averages a whopping 3.18 million Scoville heat units and has been developed over 10 years. For reference, Jalapenos are a mild 10,000 to 20,000 Scoville units.
Scoville units measure capsaicin, the chemical that triggers spicy sensation.
Because of this, Pepper X is safe for consumption in the The Last Dab hot sauce developed by Puckerbutt Pepper Company founder of Smokin’ Ed Currie.
Pepper X is combined with distilled vinegar, ginger root, turmeric, coriander, cumin and dry mustard in the sauce.
Pepper X (pictured) clocked in at a whopping 3.18 million Scoville heat units and has been developed over 10 years
The new pepper is set to beat the Carolina Reaper (pictured) which only reaches 1.4 to 2.2 million Scoville heat units. For reference, Jalapenos are a mild 10,000 to 20,000 Scovilles
The first 1,000 bottles of hot sauce sold out in two minutes but it is available for pre-order on Heatonist.
The official Guinness World Record for the spiciest pepper is the Carolina Reaper with 1.4 to 2.2 million Scovilles.
Currie announced the new pepper at Chelsea Market in New York during a filming of a First We Feast YouTube episode.
He revealed: ‘Pepper X is three times hotter than any other peppers that are out there available commercially.
‘It’s twice as hot as the Reaper at 1.6 million, so this is a dangerous pepper.’
The first 1,000 bottles of The Last Dab hot sauce sold out in two minutes but is available for pre-order
Currie says the Dragon’s Breath chili is hotter than the Reaper but less so than Pepper X. It comes in at a mild 2.48 Scoville units and is potentially lethal.
According to LiveScience, eating a pepper this hot can send your immune system into overdrive and trick your body into thinking it is experience real, extreme heat.
For the same reason, Pepper X should not be consumed alone.
The hot sauce is described as: ‘More than simple mouth burn, Pepper X singes your soul. Starting with a pleasant burn in the mouth, the heat passes quickly, lulling you into a false confidence.
‘You take another bite, enjoying the mustard and spice flavors. This would be great on jerk chicken, or Indian food! But then, WHAM! All of a sudden your skin goes cold and your stomach goes hot, and you realize the power of X.’
Currie submitted the evidence that Pepper X is the world’s hottest pepper and said he expects to hear back in November.