In the culinary world, there’s a special thrill reserved for those who dare to dance with fire. For spicy food fans, there’s an entire world dedicated to giving you the spiciest dishes in different flavors. From the restaurant kitchens to the vibrant pepper labs, the world has perfected the art of turning up the heat in its dishes. Today, we’re serving you 15 of the world’s spiciest dishes. This list is going to make you reach for that milk carton!
15. Buldak (South Korea)
South Korea’s love affair with spicy food is no secret. With that, you’ve probably heard or even tried the Buldak or fire chicken. This dish exploded in popularity in the early 2000s, and it features chicken coated in brutally spicy sauce. This special sauce is made from gochujang or Korean chili paste and gochugaru or Korean chili powder, along with other fiery ingredients that contribute to its taste. There’s also a popular instant noodle version called Buldak Ramen that you can buy in Asian groceries.
14. Nashville Hot Chicken (USA)
The American counterpart of Buldak is probably the Nashville Hot Chicken. It even has a story wherein a scorned lover tried to punish her cheating partner with extra-spicy fried chicken. However, the plan backfired as her partner ended up loving it. This fiery chicken is all around Nashville as it’s marinated in spicy brine, fried, and coated with even more cayenne pepper-infused oil.
13. Doro Wat (Ethiopia)
Who knew that Ethiopia’s national dish is something that could fire your mouth out? That’s Doro Wat, which is an intensely spicy chicken stew. Its secret lies in Berbre, which is a spice blend that contains a generous amount of chili peppers. The dish is often simmered for hours and is served with injera, which is a spongy flatbread that soaks up the sauce.
12. 7 Pot Barrackpore (Trinidad and Tobago)
If you happen to be in the town of Chaguanas in Trinidad and Tobago, then don’t ever leave without trying a dish with 7 Pot Barrackpore. It is said that one of these peppers is hot enough that it can spice seven pots of stew with a Scoville rating that reaches up to 1,000,000 SHU. It features an intense heat that’s a bit fruity and bitter.
11. Red Savina Habanero (USA)
For 12 years (1994-2006), the Red Savina Habanero held the title as the world’s hottest pepper. While it has been dethroned, don’t ever underestimate it as it has a Scoville rating of up to 500,000 SHU. It was created by Frank Garcia in Walnut, California, as it’s a bred version of the habanero. The difference? It has a more intense heat and a fruity, apricot-like flavor.
10. Sichuan Hot Pot (China)
If you’re planning a trip to China and looking for a spicy escape, then here’s one that’s both fiery and numbing. Try the Sichuan Hot Pot, which is a communal meal where diners get to take their own food in a pot of boiling broth. It’s not just an ordinary broth as it features a mix of chili peppers, chili oil, and the star of the show, which is Sichuan peppercorns. They produce a tingling and numbing sensation called “málà.” Imagine combining it with the layer of chilies.
9. Phaal Curry (United Kingdom)
This is not your average curry. The Phaal Curry is an Anglo-Indian dish that was created in Birmingham, UK, to be the hottest curry in the world. There’s even a warning when ordering it, and some restaurants require signed waivers before eating it. Why? Well, it features a blend of up to 10 different types of pepper, which includes Ghost Pepper and the Naga Viper.
8. Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T” (Australia)
Sounds intimidating? You’re right! It was named after Butch Taylor, who created the pepper. It has a distinctive scorpion-like tail and a Scoville rating of 1,463,700 SHU. It even held the title of the hottest pepper in 2011 from the Guinness World Records. The “Butch T” is pretty much known for its intense heat that lingers for what feels like an eternity.
7. Ghost Pepper (India)
Ghost Pepper, or the Bhut Jolokia, was actually the first pepper to officially break the 1 million Scoville units. For a time, it’s been undisputed, but it was surpassed soon enough. Still, the Ghost Pepper features a “sneaky” heat that builds an intensity of over several minutes. Yup, it’s a long-lasting burn and is a true icon in the world of spicy foods.
6. Naga Viper (United Kingdom)
The Naga Viper was created in a greenhouse in Cumbria, England. It’s a three-way hybrid of the Naga Morich, the Bhut Jolokia, and the Trinidad Scorpion. For a brief time, it held the world’s hottest pepper in 2011 with a Scoville rating of 1,349,000 SHU. The pepper is known for its slow-building and intense heat that seems to last an eternity.
5. 7 Pot Primo (USA)
By the looks of the 7 Pot Primo, you’ll know that it was designed to be spicy. It was created by horticulturist Troy Primeaux in Louisiana. It’s actually a cross between a Naga Morich and a Trinidad 7 Pot pepper. It has a Scoville rating of 1,469,000 SHU and a fruity flavor that complements the spice well. It’s been a favorite of chili-heads for its intense heat and a look of gnarled, bumpy skin with a long tail.
4. 7 Pot Douglah (Trinidad and Tobago)
The 7 Pot Doughlah stands out for its deep, chocolate-brown color you’ll never expect out of a pepper. It’s one of the hottest peppers in the world with a Scoville rating of 1,853,936 SHU. It’s known for its searing heat that lingers. It has a smoky flavor, which makes it a favorite for making hot sauces and spice rubs.
3. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (Trinidad and Tobago)
This pepper is so hot that its capsaicin seeps through latex gloves. Well, that’s the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion for you with a whopping Scoville rating of 2,009,231 SHU. This marks the first pepper to ever break the 2 million Scoville unit barrier. It’s known for its intense spice that continues to climb for several minutes.
2. Carolina Reaper (USA)
For years, the Carolina Reaper held the title of the world’s hottest pepper. It was created by Ed Currie from the PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina. It’s a cross between a Ghost Pepper and a Red Habanero with a Scoville rating of 2,200,000 SHU. It has a distinctive scorpion-like tail with an intense and searing heat.
1. Pepper X (USA)
The undisputed king of heat would probably go to Pepper X, which is the world’s hottest pepper. It’s also created by Ed Currie, who’s behind the smokin’ Carolina Reaper. It has a mind-boggling Scoville rating of 2,693,000 SHU, which is hotter than the previous one. However, it’s not yet commercially available, but it’s already a legend in the world of spicy foods.
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