Two of the hottest peppers in the world: Pepper X and the Carolina Reaper. These super-hots blow the heat of nearly all other chilies out of the water. But which is hotter? And how do they compare in popularity, taste, and looks? Let’s break down the similarities and differences of these two super-hot chilies, so you know what to expect.
Table of Contents
- Quick comparison: Pepper X vs. Carolina Reaper
- Which is hotter, the Carolina Reaper or Pepper X?
- Which is the most popular?
- How does each of these peppers taste?
- How do they differ in shape and colors?
- Where did each pepper originate?
- Which is easier to find fresh?
- Which is used most often in commercial products?
- Must-read related posts
Quick comparison: Pepper X vs. Carolina Reaper
| Pepper X | Carolina Reaper | |
| Scoville heat units (SHU) | 3,180,000 | 1,400,000 – 2,200,000 |
| Median heat (SHU) | TBD | 1,800,000 |
| Jalapeño reference point | 398 to 1,272 times hotter (approximately) | 175 to 880 times hotter |
| Capsicum species | Chinense | Chinense |
| Origin | United States | United States |
| Use | Culinary | Culinary |
| Size | Approximately 2 to 3 inches long, stinger tail | Approximately 1.5 to 2 inches long, stinger tail |
| Flavor | Sweet, Fruity | Sweet, Fruity |
Which is hotter, the Carolina Reaper or Pepper X?
According to the breeder of both peppers (Ed Currie, the founder of PuckerButt Pepper Company), Pepper X is supposed to be twice as hot as the Carolina Reaper. Pepper X’s Scoville rating is reported to be about 3.18 million Scoville heat units (SHU) while the Carolina Reaper’s rating is ranges from 1.4 million to 2.2 million SHU, with a median heat of 1.8 million SHU. So on paper that math pans out.
But it’s worth noting that there aren’t many who have tried fresh Pepper X; most of the people who have experienced it have only done so with the pepper as an ingredient in a hot sauce. And Pepper X is not yet stable, so we’d expect some wild swings in overall heat from fruit to fruit.
But no matter what, we’re talking extreme spiciness here. Keep in mind that a jalapeño, a chili most have tried and some find very spicy, sits at a mere 2,500 to 8,000 SHU. You can see how far away these two super-hots sit. If you’re ever to handle either, it’s a must to wear gloves, kitchen goggles, and even a kitchen mask to keep the potential for severe chili burn at bay.
Which is the most popular?
To determine which is the most popular globally, let’s look to see how often each is searched online. “Carolina Reaper” (396,000 global searches monthly) is far more searched than “Pepper X” (23,000 global searches monthly.)
It’s no contest here, but truly the Reaper is the most searched chili on the planet, so it’s to be expected. Pepper X is actually searched quite often compared to many chilies, near equal to the amount of searches the scorpion pepper receives.
How does each of these peppers taste?
Like other super hot peppers, Pepper X is often described as being fruity and sweet alongside its extreme heat. Similarly, Carolina Reapers have a mildly sweet flavor akin to a more subdued version of the scotch bonnet and habanero flavor profiles.
How do they differ in shape and colors?
The shape and size of Pepper X fruits vary considerably. The variance is because the variety is not yet stable. Pepper X shapes range from elongated pods that look like ghost peppers to the lobed, squatter forms similar to the Carolina Reaper. Pepper X even, at times, has the Carolina Reaper’s distinctive pointy tail. The skin of Pepper X is exceptionally bumpy and knotty.
Carolina Reapers usually have more distinctive lobes and the tails narrow to a point (a scorpion-like tail). They, too, have knobby, poll-marked skin. Some critics claim that the reaper pepper has stability issues similar to those seen in Pepper X.
Where did each pepper originate?
Both Pepper X and Carolina Reapers come from the same place: South Carolina, which is the home of a pepper farmer named Ed Currie and his PuckerButt Pepper Company. Ed Currie rose to fame by developing the Carolina Reaper first and then Pepper X. He’s also the man behind the equally-sinister Apollo pepper (potentially as hot or hotter than Pepper X.)
Which is easier to find fresh?
You probably won’t be finding fresh Pepper X, Carolina Reapers, or any other super hot peppers in your local grocery store’s produce section. These peppers have a very narrow range of culinary appeal, and most consumers opt to avoid them.
If you do see them, it is likely to be as novelty items at a farmer’s market or similar venue. Of Pepper X and the Carolina Reaper, you are more likely to encounter the latter. The Carolina Reaper has been around for longer, so it has a reputation, and the seeds are certainly easier to find.
Which is used most often in commercial products?
Unlike other notorious super-hots like the Dragon’s Breath pepper — another possible contender for the world’s hottest pepper — Pepper X is commercially available, even if it’s only in the form of a hot sauce. The Last Dab hot sauce contains Pepper X and is a collaboration between Ed Currie, a hot sauce company called Heatonist, and the YouTube channel First We Feast. The sauce appears to be the only form in which Pepper X is sold currently.
In comparison, the Carolina Reaper is widely available. You can find it in various sauces, in powdered form and used to flavor an assortment of products including nuts and beef jerky.
- Last Dab XXX Hot Sauce
- Big on heat, for those looking for the extreme
- Highly collectible
- No sodium
- Not nearly as spicy as some reports say it is
- Carolina Reaper Powder by PepperScale
- Whole Dried Carolina Reapers
The Last Dab XXX features three types of the super-hot Pepper X, and it’s a hot one for sure. But not quite as hot as you may have heard in our books. There’s good flavor here, too. Usability trails some (as it does with all extreme hot sauces), but The Last Dab makes up for it in spades with collectibility.
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Our Carolina Reaper powder takes the work out of drying and grinding one of the hottest peppers on the planet. 100% Reaper -- no additives. Available on Etsy.
In dried form, these Carolina Reapers will last quite a long time. But just as using fresh, take care in the handling. The extreme heat remains the same. This pack is from Wicked Tickle.
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Must-read related posts
- The Hottest Peppers In The World: Yes, these two super-hots make the cut (and easily), but what else sits atop of the list? Find out.
- Hot Pepper List – Know Your Spice: We profile over 150 chilies on our dynamic list. Filter by heat, flavor, use, origin, and more.
- Our Hot Sauce Rankings: We rank over 100 hot sauces on overall flavor, heat balance, usability, and collectibility.