Carolina Reaper vs Ghost Pepper
Carolina Reaper is the hotter pepper. It reaches 2,200,000 SHU; Ghost Pepper tops out at 1,041,427 SHU, roughly 2.1 times the heat.
Both are C. chinense.
Which one do you have? Check it with the pepper identifier.
| Carolina Reaper | Ghost Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| Scoville Heat Units | 1,641,183 to 2,200,000 SHU | 855,000 to 1,041,427 SHU |
| Heat level | Superhot (1,000,000+ SHU) | Superhot (1,000,000+ SHU) |
| Species | C. chinense | C. chinense |
| Ripe pod color | Red | Red |
| Immature color | Green | Green |
| Pod shape | Habanero-type | Habanero-type |
| Pod length | 1 to 2 inches | 1 to 2 inches |
| Flesh | Thin flesh | Thin flesh |
| Pod orientation | Pendant pods | Pendant pods |
| Plant height | 36 to 42 inches | 42 to 48 inches |
| Days to harvest | Very Late 90-120 | Very Late 90-120 |
| Flowers | Solid white/cream | Solid white/cream |
| Region of origin | United States | India |
| Credited to | Ed Currie (PuckerButt Pepper Company) | Landrace — Assam/Nagaland, Northeast India |
| Also known as | CR; HP22B; HP22BNH; Reaper; Carolina Reaper Select; CR Select; Reaper Select; Select Reaper; Red Carolina Reaper; Carolina Reaper Red; HP22B pepper; Carolina Reaper HP22B; CR HP22B; HP22B Reaper; Reaper HP22B; 7-Pot Carolina Reaper Red; 7 Pot Carolina Reaper Red Long | Bhut Jolokia; Bih Jolokia; Ghost; King Chili; Naga Jolokia; Peppiniello; Raja Mircha; U-Morok; Umorok; Giant Ghost Pepper; Bih Jolokia v1; Bih Jolokia (v2); Bih Jolokia v2; Red Ghost Pepper; Ghost Pepper Red; Bhut Jolokia Red; Red Bhut Jolokia; Ghost Red; Red Bhut; Raja Mirch; Mirish Raja; Bhut Jolokia chili; Bhut Strain |
One is a landrace and the other is a deliberate cross. The Ghost Pepper, Bhut Jolokia, comes from Assam in northeastern India, where farmers grew it for generations under names like Naga Jolokia and Bih Jolokia before anyone measured it. The Carolina Reaper comes from Ed Currie's fields in Rock Hill, South Carolina. PuckerButt's own history has Currie growing peppers at home in the 1980s, running 800 plants across his yard and his neighbors' by the 1990s, and releasing the Reaper in 2013. The database records its reported parentage as a La Soufrière habanero from Saint Vincent crossed with a Naga-type pepper, which makes the Ghost Pepper, or something very like it, one of the Reaper's parents.
Guinness World Records took the Ghost Pepper as the world's hottest in 2007.
It is still the one most people have heard of.
To eat, they behave differently. The heat of the Ghost Pepper arrives late, several seconds after the bite, and then builds. The Reaper comes on faster, and tasters usually get a fruity, faintly sweet note before it does. Both are sauce and powder peppers rather than fresh vegetables. The Ghost Pepper has the longer history in the pot, dried and ground in Assamese and Naga kitchens. The Reaper has the longer history on camera.
Where do Carolina Reaper and Ghost Pepper come from?
Carolina Reaper is recorded as originating in the United States. Ghost Pepper is recorded as originating in India.
All C. chinense varieties · All superhot peppers
All C. chinense varieties · All superhot peppers
Figures come from each variety's WikiPepper record. Last updated Oct 26, 2026.