How Much Hotter Is Carolina Reaper Than a Jalapeño?
Carolina Reaper is hotter, at about 1,641,183 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 328× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 205× to 880×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Carolina Reaper | Jalapeño | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 1,641,183 SHU | 5,000 SHU |
| Measured range | up to 2,200,000 SHU | 2,500–8,000 SHU |
| Status | Guinness record | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum chinense | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | Fort Mill / Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA | Mexico (named after Xalapa, Veracruz) |
| Flavour | Fruity and sweet, with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate undertones (Guinness description) | Grassy, green-vegetal when unripe |
| Colours | red | green, red (ripe) |
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 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 328×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (205× to 880× across the measured ranges).
In between
25 peppers sit between Jalapeño 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
- 7 Pot Douglah1,170,000 SHU
About each pepper
Carolina Reaper: Bred by Ed Currie of PuckerButt Pepper Company.
Jalapeño: A Mexican C.
Questions
Which is hotter, Carolina Reaper or Jalapeño?
Carolina Reaper. It averages about 1,641,183 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 328× as hot.
How many times hotter is Carolina Reaper than Jalapeño?
About 328× using typical values (1,641,183 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 205× to 880×.
How hot is Carolina Reaper?
Carolina Reaper: up to 2,200,000 SHU, guinness record.
How hot is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.
Are Carolina Reaper and Jalapeño the same species?
No. Carolina Reaper is Capsicum chinense; Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.
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 Douglah vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.4×
- 7 Pot Primo vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.2×
Sources
- 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
- Texas AgriLife Extension (Dr. Joe Masabni), 'Jalapeno & Other Hot Peppers': Jalapeño: 3,500-4,500 average
- NDSU Extension FN584 'From the Garden to the Table: Salsa!': Jalapeño: 2,500-5,000
Full source lists are on each pepper's page.