Death Spiral
Also known as Death Pepper · Death peppers · Death Spiral chilies
The Death Spiral is a striking superhot Capsicum chinense pepper from the United Kingdom, known for its dramatically twisted, brain-like pods and extreme heat around 1.3 million SHU. It offers a surprising fruity, citrusy flavor beneath the burn. Bred as a hybrid involving Naga varieties, it is prized by chili enthusiasts for its unique appearance and intensity.
About 52 times a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU typical).
Growing
~105 days to maturity
Fruit size
5–8 cm
Flavor & Use
Fruity and citrusy with subtle floral notes and surprising sweetness that balances the extreme heat.
Culinary
About
The Death Spiral pepper, also called the Death Pepper, is a relatively new open-pollinated superhot cultivar developed in the United Kingdom. It originated as a variant of Naga Bubblegum Red (a cross by UK grower Terry Smith) selected and stabilized by Refining Fire Chiles' Jim Duffy around 2015-2016. The pods feature a highly distinctive twisted, wrinkly, and bumpy skin with brain-like folds and often a pointed stinger tail, measuring approximately 2 to 2.25 inches long by 1 to 1.25 inches wide. They ripen variably from green through peach, orange, and red, with thin flesh and good yields on plants that can reach 4 feet tall. Beneath the intense heat lies a pleasant fruity, citrusy, and slightly floral flavor with surprising sweetness. It is excellent for hot sauces, salsas, powders, and pickling, though gloves are essential when handling. Plants thrive in full sun with consistent moisture and warmth, performing well in containers or raised beds. As a newer variety, pod traits can still vary somewhat between plants.
Backstory
Selected as a spontaneous variant of Naga Bubblegum Red (a Terry Smith UK cross) by Jim Duffy of Refining Fire Chiles in 2015-2016; grown out in isolation over generations and stabilized/released with its signature twisted appearance. It remains somewhat variable as the strain continues to stabilize.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExplorePeppers bred from Death Spiral
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Death Spiral?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 1,195,149–1,500,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Capsi uses a sourced range and a trust tier, not a single marketing number. How we verify heat: https://web.thecapsi.app/learn/heat-and-capsaicin/how-we-measure-heat
- What does Death Spiral taste like?
- Fruity and citrusy with subtle floral notes and surprising sweetness that balances the extreme heat.
- How do I grow Death Spiral?
- Death Spiral: about 105 days to maturity, warm climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
- What can I substitute for Death Spiral?
- Capsi does not have that recorded yet.