A North Wales plant breeder has come up with a new Hot Pepper variety he says is the new ‘World’s Hottest’. The question is, aside from Pepper Spray and futuristic bio-weapons, why do we need a ‘New World’s Hottest’ Pepper? Some folks just HAVE to do things simply because they CAN!
Mike Smith and his new ‘World’s Hottest’ Chili Pepper…
The Carolina Reaper, from an American breeder, was the world’s hottest Chili Pepper, at 2.2 million Scoville units. Scovilles are the scale on which Hot Peppers are officially rated. Jalapeños come in at a relatively modest 5,000 Scovilles, or so.
Now, the Dragon’s Breath Chili, from hobby grower Mike Smith and Nottingham University, is claiming ascendancy at 2.48 million Scoville Units. They expect a letter from the Guinness Book of Records any day, now, confirming their claim.
The hottest naturally-occurring Chili Pepper is the Naga Bhut Jolokia, or Ghost Pepper, which clocks in at 1 – 1.4 million Scovilles. They call it the Ghost Pepper because eating it can actually kill you. More than one idiot Hot Chili Challenge participant has been hospitalized tying to beat the heat. Some have suffered serious damage to their gastrointestinal tracts.
So why do we need this new ‘Hottest’ Chili?
Seems it was developed primarily with medicinal uses in mind. It’s reportedly so potent that its oils can numb skin. There are hopes that research will discover a way to use it as an alternative anaesthetic for folks who are allergic to conventional pain killers.
But the defense industry will undoubtedly want to weaponize it and curiosity seekers will want to grow it and, perhaps, attempt to eat it, just to say they did.
*SIGH*
~ Maggie J.