The internet can't seem to have enough of the man who suffered intense 'thunderclap' headaches after biting into world's hottest pepper, Carolina Reaper. The man complained of crushing headache and neck pain for several days, each of which lasted for a few seconds. This high-profile case had to compel doctors to issue a chilli warning in America. It is reported that the 34-year old's symptoms began with dry heaves almost immediately after participation in a hot pepper contest where he ate one Carolina Reaper. The doctors diagnosed him with a temporary brain condition called "reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome" (RCVS), which causes temporary narrowing of blood vessels to the brain.
The Carolina Reaper was named as the hottest pepper on Earth by Guinness World Records in the year 2013. Grown by a producer in South Carolina, Carolina Reaper rates at an average of 1,641,183 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Whereas, jalapeno peppers score between 2,500 to 8,000 SHU. Scoville test is used to examine the hotness of the alkaloid enzyme that gives chillies their pungency.
The Carolina Reaper is said to be a cross between Sweet Habanero and Naga Viper chillies. And, the crossbreed may have an Indian connection, too. The Naga Viper was created by an English chilli farmer. It is claimed to be an unstable three-way hybrid produced from the Naga Morich (a chili pepper cultivated in North East India), the Bhut jolokia (an interspecific hybrid chili pepper cultivated in the Northeast Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur) and the Trinidad scorpion.
The Carolina Reaper was certified as the world's hottest chili pepper by the Guinness World Records in the year 2013. Here are 4 of some of the hottest chillies around the world that the spice lovers must know.
1. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Native to the lands of Moruga in Trinidad and Tobago, this hot pepper has a Scoville Heat Units of 2,009,231. This Caribbean pepper is not meant for the faint-hearted.
2. 7 Pot DouglahThink chillies and you instantly conjure a red pepper bursting with pungent hot flavours. But, that is not the case with 7 Pot Douglah. It is hot and brown in colour, and averages 1,853,936 SHU on the Scoville scale.
3. Naga ViperOriginally cultivated by an Englishman, this super-hot pepper has a Scoville Heat Unit of 1,349,000. It is a hybrid of many hot peppers and cross pollination.
4. Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper)The Bhut jolokia is also known as ghost pepper, ghost chili, U-morok, red naga, Naga jolokia and ghost jolokia. On the Scoville scale, the ghost pepper measures a whopping 1,041,427 SHU.
There are many hot peppers around the world like 7 Pot Primo, Trinidad Scorpion "Butch T" and 7 Pot Barrackpore that have a Scoville Heat Unit ranging in millions. Chillies and peppers derive a significant part of their hot pungency due to years of cross pollination and hybrid. It is not advisable for people to consume these chillies without expert supervision.