The Carolina Reaper is a hybrid chili pepper known for its extreme heat. Developed by Ed Currie of the PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina, it was officially recognized as the world's hottest pepper by the Guinness World Records in 2013. The pepper averages around 1,641,183 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), with some individual peppers exceeding 2.2 million SHU. This pepper is small, typically measuring about 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length, and has a distinctive wrinkled appearance. It is bright red when ripe and has a fruity flavor, making it popular in hot sauces and spicy dishes. However, due to its intense heat, it should be handled with caution.