Two of the most famous hot peppers in the world, the Carolina reaper and ghost pepper are so similar, yet very distinct. Our preconceptions about peppers tend to keep us limited to their heat and spiciness.
In many ways, this approach is sensible, since heat is the most famous quality of these peppers. Yet, they can be so much more in flavors and use. Of course, with superhot peppers like these, the heat can (and does) overwhelm all other aspects. Yet, there is more to the carolina reaper vs ghost pepper story – and that’s what I’ll discuss in the sections ahead.
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Carolina Reaper VS Ghost Pepper – The Highlights
Working with the Carolina reaper or ghost pepper can be as intense as the spiciness in these chillies. Though these chillies aren’t generally used at home, even regular handling of these chilies generally requires the use of nitrile gloves, and often, protection for eyes and surfaces.
These peppers aren’t easily available for the general public since most supermarkets and stores don’t carry them. Although some specialty shops do make exotic ingredients like these available for enthusiasts.
Now that we have some basic information, let’s get to the meat of the matter – the comparison of these famous peppers.
The Highlighted Differences Between Ghost Pepper And Carolina Reaper
Let’s get a quick highlight of the differences between the ghost pepper and carolina reaper on some key qualities.
Heat: Carolina reaper with median SHU at 1.8 million is notably hotter than the ghost pepper, which has a median SHU at 948,215.
Origins: Ghost pepper is believed to be a natural cross between Capsicum chinense and Capsicum frutescens. Carolina Reaper was developed as a cross between the Ghost pepper and Saint Vincent Habanero pepper.
Appearance: Ghost pepper takes on the appearance of a conventional thick red pepper, with a pointed end and somewhat bumpy texture. Carolina reaper takes on a more ominous appearance with a red spherical center with a rough texture and a connected tail/stinger.
Flavor: Both peppers are extremely hot and spicy. However, the first taste actually comes across as sweet and fruity. Carolina reaper is sweeter, while the ghost pepper has stronger fruity notes.
Which Pepper Packs More Heat?
Quick answer: Carolina Reaper.
The Carolina Reaper is amongst the hottest peppers in the world, and indeed was the record holder for several years, until it was dethroned by Pepper X in 2023.
In the conventional Scoville Heat Units (SHU) Carolina Reaper easily goes above 2 million SHU, with a high around 2.2 million SHU. Although the median value is about 1.8 million SHU.
That is extremely hot! For comparison, the average green chili pepper ranges from 1000 to 8000 SHU. Even the Serrano pepper, conventionally known for being very hot tops out at 23,000 SHU.
Now let’s move on to the other star of our show today, the famous Ghost Pepper. The ghost pepper was generally regarded as the hottest pepper in the world for several decades. Eventually, in 2007, Guinness world records made it official and named the Ghost Pepper as the hottest pepper in the world.
At that time, the ghost pepper was the first chili to have crossed one million SHU rating during tests. Conventionally, the Scoville score of the ghost pepper ranges from 855,000 to 1,041,427 SHU, with the median value at 948,215 SHU. Many chili peppers can have quite a wide range of heat in SHU, but the consistency of the Ghost Pepper on the heat scale is quite remarkable.
Origins And Naming Of Carolina Pepper And Ghost Pepper
While the ghost pepper may not be the hottest pepper in the world, it pretty much stayed at the top of this genre for a very long time. That fame has given it something of a legendary status. It’s quite famed and used in several home recipes as well as commercial uses like sauces and more.
Ghost pepper originated in India and is believed to be a natural cross between Capsicum chinense and Capsicum frutescens.
The popular name for this pepper in India is bhut jolokia, which literally translates to Ghost Pepper. It’s also known by a few other names in India, including bih jolokia (poison pepper) and naga jolokia (snake pepper).
As for the Carolina Reaper, it was developed by Ed Currie by crossing ghost pepper and Saint Vincent Habanero peppers. This insanely hot pepper took a long time to develop, but it proved its mettle and was listed as the hottest chili pepper in 2013 – a position it held for pretty much the next decade.
Shape And Aesthetics
The ghost pepper and carolina reaper both have a distinct appearance, which makes it rather easy to differentiate between the two.
Ghost pepper takes on the more classic appearance of chili peppers, with a somewhat elongated form and bright red color. The texture, however, is slightly more coarse and bumpy than conventional red chili.
Carolina reaper has a distinct shape, showing up as a red, bumpy blob, complete with an ominous tail or stinger at its end.
As such, both chili peppers are easy to distinguish from each other.
Taste And Flavor
While Carolina Reaper and Ghost Pepper are both known for their high heat and spiciness, the other flavors aren’t entirely missing. In fact, on taking the first bite, both peppers present a sweet, fruity flavor. It can take a few seconds, sometimes even 30 seconds or more, before the full force of the heat comes into play.
Generally, it is seen that Carolina Reaper is the sweeter one and Ghost pepper has stronger fruity notes.
In many ways, it’s this quality that makes both these peppers fit for several culinary uses, especially in making sauces.
The Heart Of The Hot Peppers
Carolina Reaper and Ghost Pepper are both famous peppers that have previously enjoyed holding the world record for the world’s hottest pepper. Both peppers enjoy a prominent position and fame that mostly draws from their heat and spiciness, but also from their popularity and legend as the hottest peppers available.
As such, the comparison of carolina reaper vs ghost pepper isn’t so much about their culinary qualities, but of the popularity and legend of these super hot peppers. Their remarkable spiciness with the notes of sweetness is quite interesting and the contrast of the two flavors is often quite lively.