How Hot Can They Be?

New in 2026

We have grown hot peppers before, but none as HOT as these. My neighbor planted his seeds for Chocolate Carolina Reaper and Habanero peppers in our greenhouse early in the spring. I had no idea how large these plants would become! They loved the hot, summer heat. Unfortunately, the deer loved the plants. Several of the tops of the plants were consumed by them. With the coming of the cold weather, a few plants were moved into the greenhouse and are now indoors with many peppers still coming along. A few will be dried and retained for food flavoring and for sharing with friends. (How many can a New Englander eat?)  The rest will be used as a deer and rabbit deterrent spray in our gardens.

Online research:

The Chocolate Carolina Reaper is a rare, dark-brown color variant of the standard Carolina Reaper, created by crossing a Red Carolina Reaper with a Chocolate Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.

Key Characteristics & Heat Level

• Scoville Heat Units (SHU): Averages around 1,569,300 to over 2,200,000+ SHU, rivaling or exceeding the standard red Reaper (which is roughly 880x hotter than a standard jalapeño).
• Flavor Profile: Features a strong floral aroma with fruity, sweet, and smoky notes before the intense, fast-acting super-hot burn sets in.
• Appearance & Color: Deep chocolate-brown pods with a bumpy, wrinkly texture and a distinct scorpion-like stinger tail.

 The Habanero Pepper is a small, lantern-shaped chili pepper belonging to the species Capsicum chinense. Originally from the Amazon region of South America, it became famously cultivated and a staple in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.

Key Characteristics & Heat Level

• Scoville Heat Units (SHU): Habaneros are very hot, rating 100,000 to 350,000 (SHU), making them roughly 12 to 100 times hotter than a standard jalapeño.
• Flavor Profile: Beyond the intense spice, habaneros feature a distinct, bright flavor profile with notes of tropical fruit, apricot, citrus, and a subtle floral or smoky aroma.
• Appearance & Colors: They are typically 2 to 6 centimeters (about 3/4 to 2 1/4 inches) long, wrinkly, and boxy or lantern-shaped. While bright orange is the most common color, they can also ripen into red, yellow, white, brown, or purple varieties.