Hot peppers’ spicy heat is measured in Scoville heat units, named for Wilbur Scoville. The level of heat was originally determined by a panel of individual tasters. (Tetiana Kolubai/Dreamstime) Don’t ...

For comparison, a habanero pepper typically hits 100,000 Scoville heat units, but Pepper X registers at 2.69 million units. Breeder and grower Ed Currie created both record-breaking peppers.

Hot peppers' spicy heat is measured in Scoville heat units, named for Wilbur Scoville. The level of heat was originally ...