The World’s Five Hottest Peppers

With a spiciness rating of 1,001,304 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), the Bhut Jolokia is approximately 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. While its taste-bud-smelting flavor makes it attractive to some for both cooking and pepper eating contests, it is also commonly used as elephant repellant in India. In order to avoid being trampled, locals will rub the pepper on fences or use it in smoke bombs, helping to ward the creatures off.

Originating from Trinidad, this highly rare pepper gets its nickname from its supposed ability to spice up to seven pots of stew with merely a single pepper. Habanero-like in appearance, 7 Pot comes in many colors, including even a “chocolate” variation.

 When tested by the New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Institute this pepper scored an average of 1.2 million SHU. While I haven’t tried it personally, I think it’s safe to assume that taking a bite feels like a scorpion stung your tongue repeatedly.

Custom bred by Smokin’ Ed of The PuckerButt Pepper Company, this pepper currently holds the Guinness World Record for hottest chili at 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units average. I wonder if this pepper was named after the South Carolina summer heat...

The legendary high energy and punk rock band who have performed sold-out shows across the world are definitely the hottest peppers I've ever come across (Even if the NFL wouldn't let them plug in their own instruments). It's hard not to play the air guitar or jump around in your house whenever they come on the radio! If you can find a pepper that will make you do that, then you, my friend, have proved me wrong!