Guinness World Records announced on Monday that the Carolina Reaper, once the reigning champion of spicy peppers, has been dethroned by a new contender called Pepper X. Developed by Ed Currie, founder of the Puckerbutt Pepper Company in South Carolina, Pepper X averages an astonishing 2.69 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU), surpassing the Carolina Reaper's average of 1.64 million SHU.

The SHU scale, developed by American chemist Wilbur Scoville in 1912, measures the heat of chili peppers. To put it into perspective, a jalapeno pepper typically scores between 3,000 to 8,000 SHU, according to Guinness. The Carolina Reaper was already known for its intense heat, but Pepper X takes it to a whole new level.

Ed Currie spent over a decade cultivating Pepper X on his farm, crossbreeding it with some of his hottest peppers to increase its capsaicin content. Capsaicin is the compound responsible for the heat in chili peppers. The Puckerbutt Pepper Company's website describes the Carolina Reaper as "painfully hot," leaving us wondering how they will describe Pepper X, which ranks 1 million units higher on the Scoville scale.

Currie initially presented Pepper X to the world on an episode of the popular YouTube series "Hot Ones." However, he held off on releasing it for a while, keeping it as a backup in case someone else produced a hotter pepper than the Carolina Reaper. When no one did, he decided it was time to unveil Pepper X to the world.

In a video posted on YouTube by First We Feast, Currie expressed his satisfaction with the achievement. "People said it couldn't be done, they called us liars, and we proved to them that Pepper X is actually the hottest pepper in the world, officially from Guinness," he said. This accomplishment is the result of years of hard work and dedication by Currie and his team.

Scoville Heat Units (SHU) are a measure of a pepper's heat based on its capsaicin content. Capsaicin is the chemical compound responsible for the spicy sensation. The Scoville scale measures how much water is required to dilute a pepper to the point where its heat can no longer be tasted. Pepper X rates at an average of 2,693,000 SHU, while the Carolina Reaper averages 1.64 million SHU. A jalapeno, in comparison, typically ranks between 3,000 to 8,000 SHU.

Currie's journey into the world of hot peppers began as a hobby, eventually turning into a full-time endeavor. According to the Puckerbutt Pepper Company website, he cultivated 800 hot pepper plants in his home and the homes of family, friends, and neighbors in the 1990s. Over the years, he honed his skills and expertise in breeding and growing peppers, leading to the creation of Pepper X.

The development process for Pepper X involved not only increasing its heat level but also focusing on flavor. Currie explained that when breeding the pepper, they aimed to reach the maximum heat level while ensuring a delicious taste. However, protecting Pepper X was also a priority, as Currie revealed that people had been trying to steal it for years.

As of now, Pepper X is considered a proprietary pepper, and pods and seeds will not be sold. The only way to experience its fiery heat is through Pepper X hot sauces. However, Currie is already working on his next potential record-breaking pepper, implying that the world of spicy peppers may continue to evolve and surprise us in the future.