Carolina Reaper
Last updated
The Carolina Reaper is a cultivar of the Capsicum chinense plant, developed by American breeder Ed Currie. The pepper is red and gnarled, with a bumpy texture and a small pointed tail.
Background
It took over 10 years to develop. During November of that year, a reporter from NPR visited Currie to try the new pepper. It was later claimed through media outlets such as the Associated Press that an individual Carolina Reaper had a heat level of 2.2 million SHU.
The Reaper has been described as having a fruity taste, with the initial bite being sweet and then immediately turning to 'molten lava.' The sensory heat or pungency detected when eating a Carolina Reaper derives from the density of capsaicinoids, particularly capsaicin, which relates directly to the intensity of chili pepper heat and Scoville Heat Units (SHU). He suggested growing the plants in 30–40 cm (12–16 in) pots to restrict growth and produce fruit sooner. When fully ripe, two peppers occupy the palm of the hand.
Did You Know?
- The Carolina Reaper was developed by crossing a La Soufrière Habanero from Saint Vincent and a Naga pepper (Ghost pepper) from Assam.
- A reporter from NPR who tasted the pepper reportedly rolled on the floor, hallucinated, and shared the experience with national media.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who bred the Carolina Reaper?
American chili breeder Ed Currie developed the Carolina Reaper as a cultivar of Capsicum chinense. He is also the person behind Pepper X, the pepper that later dethroned it.
What species does the Carolina Reaper belong to?
It is a cultivar of Capsicum chinense, the same species that includes habaneros and scorpion peppers. Currie selectively bred it to push heat far beyond what that species typically produces.
More in Peppers & Citrus Fruits
Related in Peppers & Citrus Fruits
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Carolina Reaper (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced