The scorpion and the reaper are two of the hottest peppers in the world. So, it’s only natural that we go on with a scorpion pepper vs carolina reaper discussion and see how these peppers compare to each other.
Scorpion pepper is also known as the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion. For a while there, it was the hottest pepper in the world, though the title was short-lived.
Trinidad Scorpion made its way into the Guinness World Records in 2011 by dethroning Ghost Pepper to become the hottest chili pepper in the world. In turn, the scorpion pepper was dethroned by the Carolina Reaper in 2013, which remains the hottest chili pepper in the world to this day.
Carolina Reaper vs Scorpion Pepper – A Few Points Of Note
As we saw with our comparison of Carolina Reaper with the ghost pepper, this pepper has earned its stripes and title as the hottest chili pepper in the world.
Scoring about 2.4 million on the Scoville Scale is an impressive achievement, which puts the Carolina reaper ahead of most of its competition, including the scorpion pepper.
And while the scorpion reaper might lag behind the Carolina reaper in the SHU (heat scores), it’s not to be looked down upon by any means. Both of these are insanely hot peppers that normal chili peppers couldn’t hold a candle to!
For comparison, an average jalapeno pepper scores somewhere around 2500 to 8000 SHU. And as we know, jalapenos can be very hot. Now imagine how these immensely hot peppers feel, given that they rate 2 to 2.4 million on the Scoville scale!
How Hot Is A Scorpion Pepper When Compared to Carolina Reaper?
First thing to know here is that “scorpion pepper” isn’t a specific chili pepper. It represents a group of peppers. There are several cultivars in this category, including the Trinidad scorpion ‘Butch T’ pepper, which scores 1,463,700 SHU and Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, which tips the scales at 2,009,231 SHU.
However, for our current discussion, we’ll consider the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion as synonymous to scorpion pepper. It is one of the more famous varieties, and is extremely hot. Which makes it good enough to compare to the Carolina Reaper.
Coming back to its heat, this insanely hot pepper can clock 2,009,231 SHU on the Scoville scale. That is insanely hot, only a little lower than the world’s hottest chili pepper, the Carolina Reaper.
While it may not be the hottest, this is a very hot pepper. It’s recommended that you wear a glove when handling this pepper. While it is edible and finds use in several recipes, it shouldn’t be handled lightly!
What Is A Scorpion Pepper?
In its shape, the scorpion pepper resembles habanero a bit, but it’s more of a passing resemblance rather than a similarity. It is easy to distinguish both these types of pepper from each other. However, the comparison holds since the scorpion pepper is a cultivar of the Capsicum chinense, which basically comes down to being a habanero-type pepper.
There is a problem though, which is that scorpion peppers can vary a lot in appearance. While it’s not some huge change, the peppers can be noticeably different from one another. This behavior has raised some questions over the stability of scorpion pepper as a cultivar.
Conventionally, these peppers are bright red and have lobes. They include a narrow, pointed tail which is seen similar to the tail of a scorpion. The name of the pepper is derived from this appearance.
Usually, this pepper is a bright glossy red with a stout appearance. It is usually about 1.5 inches wide and 2-3 inches in length. Not huge in size by any means, but a deadly hot chili worth its name.
Origins And Taste Comparision
Scorpion peppers first saw cultivation in the Moruga village of Trinidad. The hot pepper was developed by Wahid Ogeer, a farmer in the village. The location is a big reason why this is called the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion pepper.
But what about the taste?
Well, obviously it’s hot and spicy, but that would be overlooking the characteristics and other notes of this food. Chilis rarely are so bland as to only walk the unidimensional path of heat.
Scorpion peppers have a mild, fruity flavor that carries touches of sweetness. That’s actually the first quality you’ll notice when/if you eat these peppers. On first taste, they feel pretty sweet.
But give it time and within a few seconds, the legendary and massive heat will make itself known. It’s remarkably surprising and super hot – almost unbearably so. In some ways, this is quite similar to the Carolina reaper, which first shows a sweet fruity characteristic too. It’s later that its heat hits and feels like ‘molten lava’ in the mouth.
A Quick Look At The Hottest Peppers In The World
Let’s see where these peppers stand on the top ratings amongst the hottest peppers in the world.
- Carolina Reaper – Hottest chili pepper in the world.
- Chocolate Bhutlah – A rare brown chili occupying the top ranks, which is otherwise dominated by red chili peppers.
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Pepper – This super hot chili has earned its position on these rankings.
- 7 Pot Douglah
- Dorset Naga
The Hot Chili Comparisons Of Note
There are several key points in the scorpion pepper vs carolina reaper discussion. However, it’s worth remembering that while California Reapers are the hottest chili peppers around, the scorpion peppers aren’t far behind. For an average customer, the heat difference between these chilies is more an academic comparison rather than something that can affect their dish.
Insanely hot as they are, both these peppers are used in recipes due to their taste and heat. These include sauces, salsas, and a few other products.