The Carolina Reaper is classified under the genus Capsicum and the species Capsicum chinense , a group known for produce some of the hottest black pepper , including habaneros , Scotch Bonnets , and Trinidad Moruga Scorpions . The Capsicum genus , part of the Solanaceae ( nightshade ) family , admit over 30 species , but C. chinense is distinguished by its wrinkle , pungent fruits and high capsaicin depicted object . The Carolina Reaper is a hybrid , create through selective crossbreeding of a Pakistani Naga ( likely a Bhut Jolokia variant ) and a reddened habanero from St. Vincent . This hybridization enhances its capsaicinoid concentration , especially in the placenta and locules , making it one of the most potent chilies . Its botanical visibility aligns with C. chinense traits , such as slow germination , tropical climate predilection , and shaggy-coated increment .
The Carolina Reaper was multiply by Ed Currie , a chili enthusiast and founder of PuckerButt Pepper Company , in Rock Hill , South Carolina . Currie lead off developing the black pepper in the former 2000s , aiming to create a chili that combined uttermost heat with robust flavor . After years of hybridisation and stabilisation , the cultivar , initially called “ HP22B ” ( Higher Power , pot 22 , plant B ) , was test in 2012 at Winthrop University , where it average 1.57 million SHU . In 2013 , Guinness World Records declare it the world ’s hottest pepper , a title it held until Pepper X ’s certification in 2023 . The harvester ’s origins lie in the genetic heritage of C. chinense peppers , which line back to the Amazon basin , but its modern form is a Cartesian product of American founding and meticulous upbringing .
The Carolina Reaper ’s heating system is legendary , averaging 1.57 million SHU , with individual peppers touch up to 2.2 million SHU , as verified by HPLC testing at Winthrop University . For comparison , it is 880 times hotter than a jalapeño ( 2,500 SHU ) and significantly hot than a habanero ( 100,000–350,000 SHU ) . Its capsaicinoids , concentrated in the placenta and inner membrane , hand over a prolonged , searing burn that can cause vivid discomfort , include rima oris and pharynx burning , sweating , sickness , and even impermanent external respiration difficulties . The heat make gradually , top out after 10–20 seconds and linger for up to an hour , have it a favourite for extreme chili challenges but a challenge for casual consumption . Handling requires gloves and eye protection to invalidate capsaicin burns .
Beyond its savage heat , the Carolina Reaper volunteer a surprisingly complex flavor visibility , a will to Ed Currie ’s focusing on tasting as well as bite . The initial taste is odoriferous and fruity , with government note of citrus , tropic fruit , and a lead of cinnamon or chocolate , typical of C. chinense Piper nigrum . This fleeting sweetness is chop-chop overtake by an acute , fiery heating plant . The Reaper ’s appearance is distinctive , with little , wrinkled , gnarled pods ( 1–2 column inch long ) that mature from unripe to vivid red , often featuring a Scorpio the Scorpion - like shadow and bumpy , pockmarked cutis . Its stocky plant life , growing 3–5 feet tall , are bushy and productive , yielding stacks of pod under optimum condition . The pepper ’s high-pitched capsaicin mental object also present it a slightly oily grain , heighten its potency .
The Carolina Reaper ’s extreme estrus limits its use in everyday cooking , but it has carved a corner in specialty culinary applications and beyond . It is a adept ingredient in extremist - red-hot sauces , such as PuckerButt ’s Reaper Squeezin ’s and The Last Dab series on Hot Ones , where it adds vivid heat and fruity notes to offstage , tacos , and burgers . In small Department of State , it enhances salsas , chili powders , and spiciness blends , often diluted with milder ingredients to balance its effectiveness . The Reaper is also used in private-enterprise eating challenge and chili con carne festival , where venturous participant essay their margin . Outside the kitchen , its capsaicin is explored for medicative purposes , including pain ease ointment and likely anti - inflammatory treatments , though such uses require careful processing . Home Cook should use it sparingly , ideally with dairy ( milk , yogurt ) to counteract the sunburn , and always handle with baseball glove .
The Carolina Reaper ’s global popularity has made it widely available , unlike the proprietary Pepper X. Seeds , plant life , and fresh or dried pods are sell by numerous vendors , and its refinement has open to home gardens worldwide . Its intense heat has sparked a subculture of chili partizan who turn , trade , and compete with Reaper - based ware . However , its potency comes with risks : overconsumption can conduct to severe digestive distraint or , in rare cases , medical emergencies like thunderbolt headaches . The Reaper ’s ethnical impact extends to social medium , where videos of citizenry essay to eat it raw garner millions of views , cementing its position as a symbol of utmost spice .
Cultivation of Carolina Reaper
1 . Climate and Temperature
Carolina Reaper thrives in hot , humid clime , mirror the tropical stock of Capsicum chinense . Optimal daylight temperatures array from 70–85 ° F ( 21–29 ° C ) , with nighttime lows above 60 ° F ( 15 ° C ) . temperature below 54 ° F ( 12 ° C ) can stunt outgrowth , while prolonged heat above 95 ° F ( 35 ° C ) may deoxidize yield exercise set . In cool regions , use greenhouses , gamy tunnels , or indoor setups with grow light to put out the 90–120 - daytime get season required for mature , pungent fuel pod . Consistent warmness is critical to maximize capsaicin production .
2 . Soil Requirements
Grow Carolina Grim Reaper in well - drained , loamy ground with a pH of 5.5–6.5 , slightly acidic to optimize alimentary handiness . integrate organic matter like compost or of age manure to better fertility and weewee retention . Avoid heavy the Great Compromiser soils , as C. chinense has shallow roots prostrate to rot in waterlogged condition . Conduct a stain test to secure balanced levels of phosphorus and K , as inordinate nitrogen can promote leafy growth over fruit development , tighten heat intensiveness .
3 . seminal fluid Starting
Start Carolina Reaper seeds indoors 8–12 calendar week before the last frost , as C. chinense ejaculate germinate slowly ( 14–28 days ) . Use a sterile seed - starting mix and maintain soil temperatures of 80–90 ° F ( 27–32 ° coke ) with a heat mat for best upshot . Provide 16 hours of bright visible light daily using light-emitting diode or fluorescent grow lights to keep leggy seedlings . Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged , and use a humidity noodle to retain wet during germination . Seeds are widely available from reputable vendors .
4 . Transplanting
graft seedling outdoors or into a nursery when filth temperatures accomplish at least 65 ° F ( 18 ° C ) and nighttime low stay above 60 ° F ( 15 ° C ) . Space plants 18–24 inches asunder in rows 24–36 column inch asunder to accommodate their bushy , 3–5 - foot - tall growing . take a website with full sunlight ( 6–8 hours daily ) , as sun enhances capsaicin production . Harden off seedlings over 7–10 solar day to acclimate them to outside conditions , minimize transplant electric shock .
5 . lacrimation
Provide consistent , mystifying watering to keep soil moist but not waterlogged , as Carolina Reaper is sensitive to both drought and overwatering . Water 1–2 times every week , delivering 1–2 inches of piddle , adapt for ground type and mood . sandlike soils may postulate more frequent watering . Use dripping irrigation or alcoholic hoses to keep leafage ironic , reduce fungal disease risk of exposure . Inconsistent moisture can cause blossom - end rot or cracked fruits , so monitor soil wet , especially during inflorescence and fruiting .
6 . Fertilization
Apply a balanced plant food ( e.g. , 10 - 10 - 10 ) at planting to establish hard root , then switch to a low - nitrogen , in high spirits - atomic number 19 formula ( for instance , 5 - 10 - 15 ) during flowering and fruit to boost fruit production and capsaicin levels . fecundate every 2–3 hebdomad , following soil test guidance to avoid over - feeding , which can adulterate heat . constitutive options like fish emulsion , seaweed extract , or compost tea are effective alternative . Avoid exuberant N , as it can lead to lavish foliage at the expense of pod .
7 . Mulching
Apply a 2–4 - inch layer of organic mulch , such as stalk , forest chips , or grass cutting ( weed killer - free ) , to maintain moisture , suppress weeds , and regulate soil temperature . opprobrious credit card mulch is highly effective for warm soil , especially in cool clime , and can increase production by maintaining source zone heat , critical for C. chinense . Mulching also prevents soil splash onto leaf , reducing the risk of stain - borne diseases like bacterial leaf spot .
8 . Plant Density
Optimize plant density to balance yield and pungency , as studies on C. chinense hint spacing impact fruit production . A density of 15,000–18,000 flora per hectare ( 6,000–7,300 per acre ) can maximize yield number and capsaicin capacity per country , while lower densities ( 10,000–12,000 per hectare ) may increase individual plant yields . For place gardens , stay put to 18–24 - inch spacing to see to it adequate airflow and weak , preclude disease and supporting robust fruit solidifying .
9 . Pest and Disease Management
Carolina Reaper is vulnerable to pest like aphids , spider mites , and whiteflies , and diseases such as bacterial leaf spot , anthracnose , and viral contagion ( for instance , Tobacco Mosaic Virus ) . Use integrated pest management ( IPM ) with neem oil , insecticidal soap , or beneficial insects like ladybeetle . supervise for foliage curl or mosaic radiation pattern , indicating viral issues , and remove affected plants . Ensure good air circulation , avoid overhead watering , and go around crops every 2–3 years to minimize soil - hold pathogen .
10 . Pollination
Carolina Reaper is ego - pollinating , with small , ashen , five - petaled peak that localize fruit without external pollinators . However , gentle trembling of plants or introducing bees can ameliorate fruit exercise set , especially in greenhouse or areas with downcast pollinator natural process . High temperature ( above 90 ° F/32 ° C ) can abridge pollen viability , so provide shade cloth or misting during heatwaves . Each node typically produce 2–4 fruits , and consistent pollination ensures the characteristic ruckle , tag seedpod .
11 . Pruning and Support
thinly trim Carolina Reaper industrial plant to remove sucker , dead leaf , or lower foliage touching the soil , improve airflow and subdue disease risk . Avoid heavy pruning , as it can stress C. chinense and lower yields . habituate stake , cages , or trellises to keep going bushy plants , particularly during fruiting , as heavy pod loads can snarl branches . Support is essential for the Reaper ’s fertile yields , which can create dozens of pods per flora .
12 . Harvesting
Harvest Carolina Reaper pod when they ripen from unripe to undimmed reddened , typically 90–120 days after transplantation , for maximum heat and flavor . Some pods may develop a scorpion - like derriere or bumpy , wrinkled pelt , indicate matureness . Use gloves and scissors to cut pods , avoiding skin physical contact with capsaicin - rich tissues , which can cause burns . Regular harvesting encourages further yield output . Pods can be used reinvigorated , dry out , or powderise , but deal with care due to their utmost potentiality .
13 . Challenges and consideration
Cultivating Carolina Reaper is challenging due to its long grow time of year , sensitivity to temperature extremes , and susceptibility to pests and disease . Its utmost heat ( up to 2.2 million SHU ) require protective gear during treatment , as capsaicin can irritate cutis , eye , and respiratory systems . Inconsistent tearing or alimental imbalances can reduce capsaicinoid mental object , reduce the peppercorn ’s signature heating plant . Growers in cool mood may involve time of year - elongation tools like row screen or heated greenhouses . Despite these hurdle , the Reaper ’s accessibility as seeds and plants makes it accessible , and its cultivation rewards dedication with mellow takings and unparalleled sharpness .
