The Creator of the World’s Hottest Pepper: Ed Curry

Summary

In this article, we explore the story of Ed Curry, the creator of the Carolina Reaper, the world’s hottest pepper. We learn about his breeding techniques and how he turned his hobby of growing peppers into a successful business. We also discuss the growing popularity of hot sauce in America and the caution needed when handling these spicy peppers.

The Carolina Reaper: A Brief Introduction
Breeding Techniques for Super Hot Peppers
From Hobby to Business: Pucker Butt Pepper Company
The Growing Popularity of Hot Sauce
Conclusion

The Carolina Reaper: A Brief Introduction

Ed Curry is the creator of the Carolina Reaper, the world’s hottest pepper. The pepper is a crossbreed between a pepper from Pakistan and one from St. Vincent. The Carolina Reaper has an average Scoville heat unit of 1.642 million and a peak heat of 2.5 million, making it much hotter than other peppers like jalapenos, Thai chilis, habaneros, and ghost peppers.

Breeding Techniques for Super Hot Peppers

Curry has bred almost 500 distinct pepper plants and continues to breed peppers that are hotter and hotter. To create a new super hot pepper, Curry uses a crossbreeding technique and selectively breeds subsequent generations to tease out specific traits. The process of stabilizing hybridization and getting predictable traits and consistent fruit takes about 8 to 10 generations. If desirable traits are obtained, the crossbreeding continues, but if not, the process starts over again.

From Hobby to Business: Pucker Butt Pepper Company

Curry, who grew up gardening and learned how to breed plants from his mother, started crossbreeding pot when he was younger but switched to super hot peppers like the Carolina Reaper. He became addicted to the natural high he got from eating hotter and hotter peppers. Curry’s hobby of growing peppers turned into a full-time business when he started Pucker Butt Pepper Company. He grows peppers, makes hot sauce, salsa, mash, mustard, beef jerky, and even saves the seeds. However, caution is needed while handling the peppers as capsaicin is a strong irritant to the skin, eyes, and lungs.

The Growing Popularity of Hot Sauce

Curry, a pepper farmer, explains that peppers protect their soft parts by being spicy and that the level of spice is measured using the Scoville scale. Originally, the level was determined by taste testers, but now it is measured analytically using a machine called an HPL. Curry works with a chemist to find out exactly how much capsaicin is in his peppers. America’s growing appetite for spice has caused the hot sauce industry to grow 150% from 2000 to 2011, making it a $1.5 billion industry in the US. This growth is due to the changing demographic of America, bringing new food cultures. Despite warnings, people are constantly posting videos of themselves eating peppers, making hot sauce a mainstream trend.

Conclusion

Ed Curry’s passion for peppers has led him to create the world’s hottest pepper and start a successful business. His breeding techniques and dedication to finding the perfect super hot pepper has made him a respected figure in the industry. As the popularity of hot sauce continues to grow, it is important to remember the caution needed when handling these spicy peppers.