Chillis are featured in many cuisines and food cultures around the globe. Have you ever wondered how a fruit that basically hurts you to eat it, did not go extinct?
Chilli peppers are eaten by a quarter of the earth’s population every day, in countries all over the globe. However, they were unknown to a good part of the world until Christoper Columbus made his way to the New World in 1492.
The burning and pain you feel when eating a chilli pepper is caused by a compound called capsaicin. Consuming this compound triggers pain receptors in the body to send out a warning to you that you’ve potentially done something a little dangerous!
Here are five of the hottest chilli peppers in the world, you might want to avoid:
Pepper X:
This is the current world record holder for the spiciest chilli pepper with a Scoville heat unit (SHU) rating of 2,693,000. Bred by Ed Currie and recognised by Guinness World Records as the hottest pepper independently tested, a Pepper X taste test involves a burning sensation followed by several hours of intestinal cramping.
Carolina Reaper:
Known for its intense heat, the Carolina Reaper has a SHU rating of 2,200,000. The previous world champion, this chilli has a unique stinger tail that is unlike any other pepper and every pod is different.
It gets its insane heat from being a cross between a Ghost Pepper and a Red Habanero; oddly enough, it doesn’t just have heat, it also has an excellent fruity flavour to boot – that’s before it melts your face off!
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion:
This pepper, with a SHU rating of 2,009,231, is known for its unique blend of heat and flavour. From the district of Moruga on the island of Trinidad, the first bite may be hot without being overwhelming, but as the inferno grows and grows over the next few seconds, you realise you’ve bitten off far more than you can chew, right up to the point your head explodes.
7 Pot Douglah:
Coming in at 1,853,936 SHU, this is the hottest pepper you will find which isn’t red. This brown beast is considered to have one of the best flavours among peppers that bring extreme heat. A consolation then, as it burns your soul to pieces.
7 Pot Primo:
Coming complete with a long skinny tail, the 7 Pot Primo just looks hot – and it is at 1,469.000 SHU. Created by Troy Primeaux, this pepper was bred to terrify; with its long stinger and outrageous heat, its mission has been very much accomplished.
