South Carolina’s Pepper X Crowned World’s Hottest Pepper And I Tried It

Move over, Carolina Reaper. There’s a new hottest pepper in town. According to Fox News the Guinness World Record for "hottest chili pepper" has been awarded to a spicy nightshade called “Pepper X”. To get an idea of how hot this little guy is, a jalapeño pepper comes in at 5,000 the Scoville Heat Units (SHU) scale, the reaper comes in at 1,640,000 million, and the dreaded Pepper X clocks in at 2,693,000.

You know what's funny? About 5 years ago, we had "World Record Week" on our morning show and because I love hot sauce, my world record was to try the Carolina Reaper. Which at the time was the hottest pepper in the world. Creator "Smokin" Ed Currie came into the studio with Carolina Reaper sauces level 4-10!

Each hot sauce became increasingly hotter than the next, but I made it through, and dare I say I even enjoyed it. That is until Ed was so impressed with my pain tolerance that he pulled out Reaper oil which is the hottest form because of the concentration.

This is where I wanted to tap out, but I felt pressured to hold my hot card. So I tried it, and when I say it was the hottest thing I have EVER had, that is no exaggeration! But I made it through...

After the camera stopped rolling, Ed had one more thing he wanted me to try. That's when it happened! He pulled out the Pepper X. This was an experiment that he had been working on. It was going to replace the Carolina Reaper as the hottest pepper in the world. Now, mind you, this was five years ago, and the Pepper X was JUST recognized as the hottest this month. I was one of the first people EVER to try it.

It was no joke. I felt an inferno in my body from head to toe! It burned for HOURS! I had to legit lie on the cold concrete floor in my office for hours until my body stopped convulsing from the pain. I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital.

Ed said similar things about the pepper X. This thing isn’t just hot…it’s painful. Ed Currie, the owner of Puckerbutt Pepper Company who created Pepper X says, "I was feeling the heat for three-and-a-half hours. Then the cramps came."  He adds, "Those cramps are horrible. I was laid out flat on a marble wall for approximately an hour in the rain, groaning in pain."

I mean, if it was that hot for the creator... I'm not so sure we should be selling that thing in the first place! But I appreciate Ed thinking I can hang! Here is the video from our World Record Week below!

Taco Bell fans that are looking to show off their fandom while traveling (and yes, there clearly are some) will now be able to do so thanks to a new partnership with CALPAK.

Available via Taco Bell's Taco Shop and CALPAK's official website is a capsule luggage collection inspired by Taco Bell's classic hot sauce packets. Among the items in the collection are a carry-on suitcase, a duffle bag, a cross-body bag and five-piece packing cube set.

Taco Bell notes in their press release on the collection, "Taco Bell Fire Tier Rewards members will score early access to a selection of products on April 23, along with CALPAK VITs (Very Important Travelers) on April 25. On April 26, the new collection will be available to all US consumers."

Taco Bell added it is also "...releasing a summer collection on Taco Shop on May 3, while supplies last. This includes new travel-inspired items like FIRE!, HOT! and MILD! luggage tags and passport holders, along with the return of fan-favorites for warmer weather like sauce packet beach towels and koozies."

To learn more about each luggage item, scroll below.

"Compact enough to effortlessly slide into the overhead compartment, FIRE! is the perfect rolling cabin-sized companion. Soft-sided with a zippered front pocket, 360-degree spinner wheels and a removable zippered pouch, this spicy little number has all travel needs covered. It makes it easy as ever to be good to go from TSA to taxi with a TSA-accepted lock, plus a cushioned top and side handles."

"The must-have duffel bag is both lightweight and spacious. With a convenient zippered front pocket, large bottom compartment (the best place to pack your shoes!) and removable crossbody strap, the new HOT! Duffel Bag was made to make last-minute trips all the easier. The luggage sleeve is perfect for sliding onto a suitcase handle to stack packing gear, and its removable pouch and interior mesh pockets make organization a breeze."

"Not your average crossbody, this bag is the perfect on the go partner. With zippered front and interior pockets and an adjustable shoulder strap, this bag makes any travel destination better."

"Pack smarter with travel pouches that make staying organized all the more fulfilling. The set comes with one large, one medium and two smalls — plus a water-resistant envelope for all important essentials. A breathable mesh top, personal ID tag and back zippered pocket help seal the deal."