Pepper X

Pepper X is a C. chinense variety developed by Ed Currie of PuckerButt Pepper Company in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and certified by Guinness World Records in 2023 as the hottest chili pepper ever measured. Pods are wrinkled and pointed with a brain-like surface texture, ripening from green through yellow to deep reddish-orange. Beneath its extreme heat, Pepper X carries a detectable fruity, earthy flavor that sauce makers coax out using fat-based carriers such as coconut milk or olive oil.

Days to maturity

100–130 days

Plant height

90–150 cm (3–5 ft)

Best use

Extreme hot sauces

Species

Capsicum chinense

Origin

USA (South Carolina)