According to formal testing, the chili pepper cultivar known as Dragon’s Breath has a Scoville rating of 2.48 million. If true, this would make it the second-hottest chili ever recorded, behind Pepper X, which Guinness World Records had yet to confirm as of 2021. The Carolina Reaper is ranked as the hottest pepper in the world according to many authorized data from Guinness World Records.
The Development of Dragon’s Breath Pepper
In an effort to test a particular plant feeding and because of the essential oil’s potential as a skin anesthetic, the plant was created in partnership by chili farmer Neal Price, NPK Technology, and Nottingham Trent University. Breeder Mike Smith of St Asaph, Denbighshire, Wales later created the Dragon’s Breath plant. Smith claimed that he had not intended to breed the chili for record heat, but rather was attempting to grow an attractive pepper plant. The pepper was given the name Dragon’s Breath after the Welsh dragon since the farmer who grew it in Wales was of Welsh descent. It was entered in the 2017 Chelsea Flower Show’s Plant of the Year competition and made the short list, but it did not win.
The Scoville Heat Unit of Dragon’s Breath Pepper
The Carolina Reaper, the hottest chili previously tested, with a Scoville rating of 1.5 million. The Dragon’s Breath chili tested at 2.48 million, exceeding it, but Pepper X, with a Scoville rating of 3.18 million, overtook it a few months later. Researchers from Nottingham Trent University propose that the pepper’s essential oil may be effective as an anesthetic for patients who are unable to tolerate other anesthetics or in nations where they are prohibitively expensive due to the pepper’s capacity to numb the skin. One science writer pointed out that this was a typical notice that only applied to those with relevant allergies. University experts advised that ingesting one could result in death by choking or anaphylactic shock.
The Appearance of Dragon’s Breath Pepper
Like other superhot peppers, Dragon’s Breath peppers are wrinkled and rough, and occasionally have a little tail signifying extreme heat levels. The pods have a delicious flavor and a scorching heat as they mature from green to a vivid red color. The prolific chili plants often reach a height of 4 feet.
Can Eating A Dragon’s Breath Pepper Can Kill you?
No, consuming Dragon’s Breath or any other really hot chili pepper won’t kill you. If you conduct a search for these peppers, you will get results saying that eating them could result in anaphylactic shock or death, which is absolutely untrue. You can try other types so that you can have the benefits of consuming pepper. Capsaicin, the substance that gives chili peppers their heat, can, however, be consumed in excess. To achieve this, a person would need to consume more than 3 pounds of superhot peppers. The world’s hottest pepper at the moment, Carolina Reapers, has been linked to extreme hospitalizations, especially in the case of persons with pre-existing medical issues.
There is also the somewhat real tale of a man who consumed extremely spicy peppers and burned a hole in his esophagus. The hole was really caused by him throwing up after eating a burger that contained ghost pepper puree. Extremely hot peppers can certainly make you throw up, feel queasy, and hurt your stomach, but they can’t actually tear or burn through your body.
Dragon’s Breath Pepper vs. Carolina Reaper Pepper
The Carolina Reaper and the Dragon’s Breath pepper are two of the spiciest peppers in the world.
1. Which is Hotter?
According to reports, the blistering 2.48 million Scoville heat units (SHU) of the Dragon’s breath chili make it hotter than the Carolina Reaper, which produces 2.2 million SHU at its peak (a range from 1.4 million to 2.2 million SHU). The Carolina Reaper has been officially recognized as the world’s hottest pepper, as opposed to the Dragon’s Breath ranking, which is unofficial. Considerably if the Dragon’s Breath Scoville rating were accurate, Pepper X’s Scoville rating, which is also disputed, is even higher, at 3.18 million SHU, thus it could not be the strongest. Why remain unknown when they might be more seductive than a Reaper? Like Pepper X, the Dragon’s Breath line is currently regarded as unstable, which means that its appearance, flavor, and heat can vary greatly and they can be challenging to germinate. Stability in chiles can take centuries to achieve, and some never do.
2. Which is the Most Popular?
Compare the frequency of Google searches for these two really hot peppers. Which of the two is more well-liked? It’s not even close; it’s the Carolina Reaper. Each month, there are around 396,000 searches of the Carolina Reaper and 16,000 searches of the Dragon’s Breath worldwide. Although there is a considerable gap, the Dragon’s Breath is still widely used. In comparison to many other chiles, 16,000 searches each month is still quite a few. Just so happens, compared to all other chilis, the Carolina Reaper is currently the one that gets searched for the most.
3. How Does Each Pepper Taste?
Though few have tasted it, early reports indicate that the Dragon’s Breath pepper has a fruity flavor in addition to its tremendous heat. If you can get past the heat, the Carolina Reaper is one of the more palatable super-hot peppers, with loads of fruitiness and, according to some, even hints of chocolate and cinnamon. On the other hand, there are a lot of peppers you can try. You can even put it to spice up your organic mushroom snacks.
4. How Do Their Shapes and Colors Differ?
The Dragon’s Breath chile is quite small, about half an inch in length. Aside from its size, it resembles the Carolina Reaper in appearance because to its similar red hue and wrinkly, bumpy surface. Because of the similarity, it has been suggested that the pepper is simply an overwintered Carolina Reaper with smaller fruits. Between one and three inches long and one to two inches wide is the Carolina Reaper.
5. Where Did Each Originate?
Neal Price, NPK Technology, and Nottingham Trent University worked together to create the Dragon’s Breath pepper. Later, a pepper breeder named Mike Smith would develop the plant in Wales. Price and Smith gave the pepper the name “Welsh dragon” because they are both Welsh. For patients who cannot tolerate other forms of anesthesia, the pepper was created as a topical anesthetic. Ed Currie, a pepper breeder, claims he accidentally created the extremely hot chili when he created the Carolina Reaper. The Guinness Book of World Records named the reaper pepper as the spiciest pepper in the world in 2017. Either the Red Savina habanero or the La Soufriere pepper are the parent plants of the Carolina Reaper. It is most likely a covert allusion to the Red Savina because the La Soufriere pepper only ever seems to be discussed when discussing the Carolina Reaper and does not appear to be a pepper variety. The second parent of the Reaper, the ghost pepper, replaced the Red Savina, which held the title of hottest pepper in the world for 12 years.
6. Which is Used Most Often in Commercial Products?
Dragon’s Breath peppers don’t seem to be offered in any commercial preparations besides seeds for purchase. Online, it’s simple to find dried and powdered Carolina reapers. Additionally, they are utilized in numerous industrial goods, including as jerky, powders, and sauces. Reaper chilies are also used to make Challenge chips, pickles, and salsas. Due to its widespread use and highly appealing moniker, it is one of the most often used chilies for commercial purposes.