# Pepper X

Species: Capsicum chinense.

Pepper X is a Capsicum chinense stabilized from Fort Mill, South Carolina, United States. Capsi’s sourced range is 2,693,000 SHU (Official breeder). Flavor is intense, delayed burn, fruity, floral, earthy. Used for extreme hot sauces, world record challenges, professional hot sauce making. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.
About 107 times a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU typical).

## Heat sources

- 2,693,000 SHU · Official breeder
  Sanj Atwal (2023) Guinness World Records · HPLC
  https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2023/10/pepper-x-dethrones-carolina-reaper-as-worlds-hottest-chilli-pepper-759706

## Heritage

Stabilized

Pepper X is a stabilized line from Carolina Reaper.

Credit: Ed Currie · 2023

Parents:
- [Carolina Reaper](https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/carolina-reaper)
- Unknown (Unknown parent)

Peppers bred from Pepper X:
- [Apollo Pepper](https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/apollo-pepper)

Currie’s AP and Scientific American interviews both name Carolina Reaper crossed with an unnamed pepper a Michigan grower sent him, then eight to twelve generations until the line held. Seeds stay proprietary; no catalog names a second parent.

## Page sources

- [Official Guinness announcement with testing details (Winthrop University)](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2023/10/pepper-x-dethrones-carolina-reaper-as-worlds-hottest-chilli-pepper-759706)
- [Comprehensive entry with species, origin and record facts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepper_X)
- [Detailed appearance, flavor notes and breeder context from established seed catalog](https://pepperjoe.com/blogs/blog/pepper-x-worlds-hottest-pepper)
- [Official PuckerButt site confirming Pepper X in products and record](https://puckerbuttpeppercompany.com/)
- [Updated record confirmation and Ed Currie background](https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/news/pepper-x-latest-news-and-information/)
- [Species classification and Guinness/Winthrop testing summary](https://www.cayennediane.com/peppers/pepper-x-worlds-hottest-pepper/)

## FAQ
### How hot is Pepper X?

Capsi’s sourced range is 2,693,000 SHU (Official breeder). 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 Pepper X taste like?

Known primarily for its brutal, long-lasting heat with a slower onset compared to some other superhots; also exhibits fruity and floral notes, subtle sweetness at first, earthy undertones. Limited public information exists on complex flavor notes due to its extreme potency.

### How do I grow Pepper X?

Pepper X: about 120 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Pepper X?

carolina-reaper

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/pepper-x
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data