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1 / 4Photo: Jeffrey Collins/AP/TT
It’s hotter than police pepper spray. And when grower Ed Currie tasted what has now entered the record books as the world’s strongest chili, it gave him “terrible convulsions”.
– It can feel as if you are burning inside, says hobby grower Eva Robild.
For a decade, the Carolina reaper has been infamous as the strongest chili in the world. But the red fruit has gotten its share – because now Pepper X has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the hottest of all chili varieties.
The perceived heat of Pepper X has been measured at an average of 2.69 million on the so-called scoville scale, which can be compared to around 5,000 for a regular jalapeño and around 100,000 for a habanero.
The previous worst Carolina reaper measures an average of 1.64 million on the Scoville scale. Pepper spray is also often found around there, according to the AP news agency.
“Cramp”
Behind both Carolina reaper and Pepper X is an American chili enthusiast with the appropriate name Ed Currie. He has grown and crossed strong varieties in search of a hotter chilli and thinks the new record holder gives “instant, brutal heat”.
But when he tried Pepper X for the first time, his creation made him more than just warm inside.
– I felt the heat for 3.5 hours. Then came the cramps, says “Smokin’ Ed” to the AP news agency.
– Those cramps are terrible. I lay flat for an hour moaning in pain.
Burning in the ass
So far, only five people have eaten an entire record chili. Eva Robild, hobby grower and author of a book about chili, would like to taste Pepper X – but just a bite.
– I love chili, but I’m not one of those people who puts a whole fruit in their mouth. Then you can get almost like an allergic reaction, it can feel as if you are burning inside, she tells TT.
– If you eat too much chili, it will quickly come out again. The body makes a vomiting reflex and if it remains, you can easily get a stomach ache. If it comes out the natural way, it stings just as much in the ass.
Challenges and competitions involving eating extremely hot chilies are common, especially on social media. Currie describes most people as stupid and advises not to go straight for the worst, but first build up a tolerance.
– People want to climb the world’s highest mountain and eat the world’s strongest chili. I think a lot of people think it’s cool to test, says Robild.
– It’s a bit macho, but there are also many women who are chili enthusiasts. You get an adrenaline rush when you eat such a strong chili and if you like it, you want more. But if you try it for the first time in your life, I recommend a small piece.
No seeds
Ed Currie is secretive about his discovery and will not currently sell the seeds from Pepper X. However, he will sell chili flavored sauce.
Currie wants to build a chili sauce empire and believes he has been too generous with the Carolina reaper, which has received a lot of attention without protecting his discovery. Thousands of products are said to be using the chilli variety’s name without Curry’s permission.
The question is whether the limit has been reached with Pepper X? Probably not, according to Currie who suggests he will continue to try and develop even stronger varieties.
TT: Does the world need an even stronger chili?
– You are welcome to grow jalapeño and other nice chili varieties, but you have to let the nerds have some fun too, says Robild.
FACT Measures the heat
The Scoville scale indicates the perceived heat of foods, especially chili peppers.
Since the taste experience of heat depends on the presence of capsaicin, the Scoville scale actually indicates the level of capsaicin.
The scale is based on an analysis method developed in 1912 by the American chemist Wilbur Lincoln Scoville.
Source: The National Encyclopedia
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