Do you know there are over 4,000 varieties of chili Peppers worldwide, and Naga Viper Pepper vs Carolina Reaper are two of them?
If you want to learn how to differentiate between the Naga Viper Pepper vs Carolina Reaper, this article is for you.
Table of Contents Show
Naga Viper Pepper And Carolina Reaper: Common Similarities
Both these peppers come under the Capsicum chinense species to share multiple similarities.
Naga Viper Pepper and Carolina Reaper look similar, with a red, bumpy cover and a scorpion-like tail.
These peppers have received popularity in the culinary world as several chefs experiment with their unique flavor profiles.
Also, Naga Viper and Carolina Reaper preserve a complex flavor profile with fruity notes.
Additionally, both peppers serve edible items, hot sauces, condiments, and dishes.
Like other peppers, Naga Viper and Carolina are known for offering health benefits, including Vitamin C, anti-cancer properties, and boosting metabolism.
Also, both peppers have similar growth requirements with 90-120 days of harvesting.
Naga Viper Pepper Vs Carolina Reaper: Key Differences
Guinness World Records registered Naga Viper Pepper as the world’s hottest chili Pepper in 2011 and Carolina Reaper in 2017.
Though both Peppers reigned back in the past, they share many differences.
1. Pepper Origin
The Naga Viper Pepper came into existence when chili farmer Gerald Fowler developed it in England.
It is the hybrid of three Indian chili peppers such as Naga Morich, Naga Jolokia, and Trinidad Scorpion.
In contrast, Carolina Reaper was developed by Ed Currie of the PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina, USA.
This pepper is also a crossbreed of the Red Habanero and Pakistani Naga pepper.
2. Heat Level
Though both Naga Viper Pepper and Carolina Reaper are included in the hottest Peppers club, they differ in heat level.
Naga Viper offers 1,382,118- 1,641,183 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), while Carolina Reaper averages around 1,641,183 SHU, with each individual Pepper preserving over 2.2 million SHU.
3. Pepper Appearance
Naga Viper looks like a wrinkled and elongated Pepper with a tapered tip. Also, its color includes green and red based on the ripeness.
Unlike Viper, Carolina Reaper owns a bumpy texture and a tail-like appendage at the base of the pepper.
Similar to a small, sinister-looking pumpkin in shape, Carolina is available in colors including bright red and orange.
4. Flavor Profile
The Naga Viper has a fruity and little tangy flavor under its intense heat.
However, the spiciness hides the flavor, making it difficult to savor its taste completely.
In contrast, Carolina Reaper offers a sweet and fruity undertone with a wave of extreme spiciness.
So, fruity flavor is more obvious in Carolina than in Naga, providing an interesting element to its excess heat.
5. Culinary Uses
Naga Viper is known for spicy sauces and condiments, adding heat to the dishes. Due to its excess heat, chefs use Naga sparingly to avoid burning the dish’s flavor.
Like Naga, Carolina Reaper serves hot sauces, salsas, and spicy snacks. Also, it is often popular among the chili enthusiasts for its fiery kick.
From Editorial Team
Is Naga Viper hotter than Carolina Reaper?
Today, Carolina Reaper ranks #3 in the Hottest Peppers in the world, outcasting Naga Viper.
The past Guinness World Record holders include Ghost Pepper, Infinity Chili, Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, etc. The current record holder is Pepper X.
