Carolina Reaper

The Carolina Reaper is a Capsicum chinense variety bred by Ed Currie in South Carolina, created as a cross between a Pakistani Naga and a habanero. Its small, wrinkled, tail-tipped pods ripen to deep red and are among the hottest peppers ever measured. It is used almost exclusively in small quantities for hot sauces, spice blends, and extreme-heat culinary applications.

Days to maturity

90–100 days from transplant

Plant height

90–150 cm (3–5 ft)

Best use

Hot sauce, extreme heat dishes

Species

Capsicum chinense

Origin

South Carolina, USA