7 Pot Brain Strain

Sweet and fruity with tropical notes and a slightly smoky undertone that is quickly overtaken by intense, lingering heat.

The 7 Pot Brain Strain pepper is a variety of the 7 Pot chili created by chili grower David Capiello in North Carolina around 2010. It originated from 7 Pot seeds sourced from Trinidad and was developed through selective breeding to emphasize a super-wrinkly, lumpy surface resembling the human brain. The fruits start green and ripen to a deep red, measuring about two inches long with a bulbous, box-like shape that can include a recessed tail similar to the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion. Its appearance is grainy, folded, and wrinkly with more internal membrane than typical 7 Pots. Heat levels range from 1,000,000 to 1,350,000 Scoville heat units, placing it among the hottest peppers worldwide, often exceeding the Bhut Jolokia. Flavor is sweet and fruity with tropical notes and a slight smokiness, though the intense heat quickly dominates. Culinary uses are limited to tiny amounts in hot sauces, stews, chilis, and salsas, or as powder for seasoning. Plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall and require warm conditions typical of superhot chinense varieties, taking 100-120 days to maturity. Handle with extreme caution using gloves and eye protection.

Developed around 2010 by David Capiello (aka Cappy) in North Carolina through selective breeding of Trinidad 7 Pot seeds, focusing on the distinctive brain-like wrinkled pods. Shares genetics with the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and other 7 Pot variants from the Caribbean.