7 Pot Douglah vs Carolina Reaper
Carolina Reaper is hotter, at about 1,641,183 SHU against 1,170,000 SHU for 7 Pot Douglah: about 1.4× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 0.9× to 2.4×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| 7 Pot Douglah | Carolina Reaper | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 1,170,000 SHU | 1,641,183 SHU |
| Measured range | 923,889–1,853,986 SHU | up to 2,200,000 SHU |
| Status | Lab tested | Guinness record |
| Species | Capsicum chinense | Capsicum chinense |
| Origin | Trinidad and Tobago | Fort Mill / Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA |
| Flavour | Fruity, with hints of nuttiness and earthiness | Fruity and sweet, with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate undertones (Guinness description) |
| Colours | dark chocolate brown | red |
The Scoville maths
The Scoville scale is linear: a pepper at 2,000,000 SHU has twice the capsaicinoids of one at 1,000,000 SHU. So the ratio is a simple division, 1,641,183 ÷ 1,170,000 ≈ 1.4×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (0.9× to 2.4× across the measured ranges).
In between
7 peppers sit between 7 Pot Douglah and Carolina Reaper by typical heat.
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T1,463,700 SHU
- 7 Pot Primo1,400,000 SHU
- Komodo Dragon1,400,000 SHU
- Naga Viper1,382,118 SHU
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion1,200,000 SHU
- Infinity1,176,182 SHU
- 7 Pot Brain Strain1,175,000 SHU
About each pepper
7 Pot Douglah: A brown ('chocolate') strain of Trinidad's 7 Pot peppers.
Carolina Reaper: Bred by Ed Currie of PuckerButt Pepper Company.
Questions
Which is hotter, 7 Pot Douglah or Carolina Reaper?
Carolina Reaper. It averages about 1,641,183 SHU against 1,170,000 SHU for 7 Pot Douglah, about 1.4× as hot.
How many times hotter is Carolina Reaper than 7 Pot Douglah?
About 1.4× using typical values (1,641,183 ÷ 1,170,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 0.9× to 2.4×.
How hot is 7 Pot Douglah?
7 Pot Douglah: 923,889–1,853,986 SHU, lab tested.
How hot is Carolina Reaper?
Carolina Reaper: up to 2,200,000 SHU, guinness record.
Are 7 Pot Douglah and Carolina Reaper the same species?
Yes, both are Capsicum chinense.
People also compare
- Pepper X vs Carolina ReaperPepper X 1.6×
- Carolina Reaper vs Ghost PepperCarolina Reaper 1.6×
- Dragon's Breath vs Carolina ReaperDragon's Breath 1.5×
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.4×
- Carolina Reaper vs HabaneroCarolina Reaper 7.3×
- Naga Viper vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.2×
- 7 Pot Primo vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.2×
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.1×
Sources
- NMSU News Center, 13 Feb 2012 (Chile Pepper Institute study by Bosland, Coon, Reeves): 7 Pot Douglah: Chocolate 7-pot mean almost 1.17M SHU
- NMSU Chile Pepper Institute, 'Heat' page (archived 19 Jun 2021): 7 Pot Douglah: Chocolate 7 pot 1.8M SHU (peak tested)
- Guinness World Records news, 19 Nov 2013: Carolina Reaper: 1,569,300 SHU average; parentage per Guinness; previous holder Butch T
- Guinness World Records (record page, archived 24 Dec 2014): Carolina Reaper: record text: average 1,569,300 SHU, Winthrop tests throughout 2012, dated 7 Aug 2013
Full source lists are on each pepper's page.