Carolina Reaper Powder

$13.95

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Size 1.5 Oz 3.75 Oz 7.5 Oz 16 Oz 1 Kg

Quantity

On the Scoville Heat Scale, the Carolina Reaper pepper has an average Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating of 1,641,000 with some individual peppers topping out at an incredible 2,200,000 SHU.

To give you an idea of how off-the-charts Carolina Reaper Scoville units are compared to other common pepper powders, a bell pepper has a SHU of 0 as it has no heat. A common jalapeño has a SHU of around 2,500 - 6,000 SHU. Whereas habanero peppers range anywhere from 100,000 to 350,000 SHU.

Carolina Reaper Pepper Characteristics:
The Carolina Reaper pepper was bred by the pepper cultivar, Ed Currie, who cultivated the pepper by cross-breeding a red habanero pepper with a red Ghost Pepper. It was bred in a greenhouse in Rock Hill of South Carolina and was previously named HP22B. Ed also goes by the nickname, Smokin' Ed. Our Carolina Reaper Powder is mildly sweet and has a fruity flavor. That is, once you get past the overwhelming heat the pepper contains!

Since the peppers are a crossbreed between a ghost pepper and a red habanero pepper, it has a sweet fruity flavor but the heat hits you instantly. Your skin begins to sweat and the intense pain in your mouth is unbearable. Luckily this pain subsides in about 10 minutes.

What do Carolina Reaper Peppers look like?

Unlike most peppers that have a smooth appearance, reaper pods are very rough in appearance and have a tail that looks similar to a scorpion stinger. They generally range in size from about 3/4 of an inch to 1.5 inches in diameter.

Carolina Reaper Pepper Pungency

The heat, also known as pungency as it relates to peppers, is caused by the chemical compound capsaicin. Capsaicin is an oil that is prominent in the world's hottest peppers. One known antidote to capsaicin is casein which is present in some milk-based products. Casein works as a detergent that binds to the capsaicin and gives the consumer of hot peppers some relief from the pepper's pungency.

The most pungent (spiciest) part of the pepper is in the inside top portion of the peppers, especially around the seeds. When trying a pepper it is always best to start with the bottom of the pepper near the tail by trying just a small sliver to get a feeling of just how hot the pepper is.

Growing Season:
Late February - Late November.

Nutritional Value:
Chile peppers contain a high amount of vitamin C. Almost twice the number of citrus fruits.

Common Uses For Carolina Reaper Seasoning:

Insanity Wings
Mexican Dishes
Chili
In restaurants that want the hottest heat levels, this would be 5 on and 1 - 5 scale.
Add heat to any meal.
Commonly used in pepper-eating contests and food-eating challenges. We host a pepper-eating contest at the Arizona Taco Festival each year. Most people are unable to even get to the Carolina Reaper and bow out on Ghost Peppers and Scorpion Peppers.
Super spicy dips

Why buy the Carolina Reaper powder over the flakes or whole peppers?

Dissolves easily making for a more constant heat level throughout the dish.
The powder is a combination of thousands of Carolina Reaper peppers. The heat level will be the average heat level of those peppers. This allows us to provide you with a more consistent product for use in recipes. While the heat level will vary from crop to crop the variation will be less noticeable compared to purchasing the whole peppers where heat differences between every single pepper will be much greater.
Cheaper to ship compared to whole peppers. The volume of powder is much less than the volume of whole peppers and flakes.

Why buy from us?

Premium quality non-smoked powder, you will taste the difference.
Lightning-fast shipping time, we will ship your order in under 2 business days. Most orders ship the same day or the very next business day.
Pure, no additives.
Ships in a high-quality spice jar with a sealed sifter flip top.

Looking for a larger amount?
We offer wholesale discounts on purchases over $500. You can learn about wholesale on our Wholesale Page.

Packaging
Orders over 4 kgs will ship in a bag in a box format without the plastic bottles due to carriers charging excess weight/volume fees. If you would like to insist it ships all in plastic jars as shown, please email us at service@sonoranspice.com.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carolina Reaper Peppers

How to eat a Carolina Reaper for the first time?

To eat a Carolina Reaper for the first time, ensure you're well-hydrated, have eaten something fatty, and keep milk or antacids handy; wear gloves for safety and choose a safe environment; nibble a small piece, chew it slowly without swallowing immediately; after eating, use dairy to soothe the inevitable burn, not water, and remain calm as the sensation will subside; keep in mind that everyone's tolerance differs and this is more about experiencing extreme heat than for health benefits. One of the best ways to try our pepper products is to make a spicy ranch dip. This simple recipe will allow you to fine-tune how much of any one pepper you can handle without going overboard.

How to prepare for a Carolina Reaper Challenge?

First we will start with what not to do. Do not drink water. What makes peppers hot is capsaicin and it is an oil, oil and water do not mix, you will only spread the capsaicin if you drink water. What you should eat or drink after you have completed the challenge are dairy products containing a high fate content and Casein. This is a protein found in milk that acts as a detergent, binding to the capsaicin molecules. Casein is hydrophilic (water-attracting) and lipophilic (fat-attracting), which allows it to dissolve the capsaicin oils and wash them away from the receptors in your mouth that detect heat.

Can a Carolina Reaper kill you?

Not likely. For a person who is not allergic to fruits, capsaicin, or any of the particular natural chemicals in the pepper, it's highly unlikely that it will kill you. If you have any underlying medical conditions, talk to your doctor before consuming them. Interestingly, the pain you feel is actually limited to mammals. Birds do not have the same pain receptors as mammals and do not even notice the heat, nor do they experience adverse reactions to eating peppers. This is believed to be a design of nature, allowing the birds to eat the peppers and transport the seeds to faraway lands, thus ensuring the survival of the pepper species.

How hot is a Carolina Reaper?

The Carolina Reaper is renowned for its extreme spiciness, typically ranging from 1,569,300 to 2,200,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), making it over 200 times hotter than a jalapeño. Its heat comes from high capsaicin content, which can cause intense burning, sweating, and other physical reactions. The sensation lasts significantly longer than with milder peppers due to its potency. While the exact heat can vary, a Carolina Reaper consistently ranks as one of the world's hottest peppers.

What is the most interesting thing about Carolina Reaper Peppers?

The most fascinating aspect of Carolina Reaper peppers is their origin through selective breeding to push the limits of heat, making them not just food but a symbol of culinary extremity. Their development by Ed Currie showcases human innovation in agriculture for the sake of spice. The Reaper has transcended the kitchen to become a cultural icon, inspiring challenges and a unique community of heat-seekers.

What is the record for eating Carolina Reaper Peppers?

The world record for the heaviest amount of Carolina Reaper chili peppers eaten in one minute is 122 grams, set by Fredy Rubio in Portland, Oregon, on August 13, 2023. This record focuses on weight due to the peppers' variable sizes. Another notable record is Mike Jack's, who ate 50 Carolina Reapers in 6 minutes and 49.2 seconds on November 5, 2022, emphasizing speed over quantity.