In a sizzling twist, Pepper X has been crowned the hottest chili pepper globally, dethroning the Carolina Reaper after its decade-long rule. The mastermind behind this fiery creation, breeder and grower Ed Currie, has remained tight-lipped about his project to safeguard his intellectual property. This proprietary pepper, however, will not be available for purchase in pod or seed form.

Lab tests conducted at Winthrop University in South Carolina have confirmed Pepper X's scorching dominance, registering an average of 2,693,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).

This surpasses Ed Currie's previous innovation, the Carolina Reaper, which averaged 1,641,183 SHU. The Scoville Scale, invented in 1912 by pharmacist Wilbur Scoville, quantifies the spiciness of peppers based on the dilution of capsaicin, the compound responsible for that familiar fiery sensation.

Ed Currie, a former addict who turned to pepper cultivation as a hobby, views peppers as a natural high, releasing dopamine and endorphins.

Interestingly, the spiciness of a pepper resides in its placenta, the tissue that houses the seeds. Pepper X's unique curves and ridges provide more surface area for the placenta to grow, setting it apart.

The creator of Pepper X is one of only five individuals who have dared to consume a whole Pepper X, an experience that he describes as intense and accompanied by grueling cramps lasting hours.

This extraordinary pepper, Pepper X, is a crossbreed resulting from a Carolina Reaper and an exceptionally hot pepper from Michigan, a creation concealed for over a decade. Ed Currie's legal team has also noted that numerous products have used the Carolina Reaper name without permission.

To protect his intellectual property this time and potentially reap profits, Pepper X pods and seeds will not be available. The only route to savoring the searing heat of Pepper X is through hot sauces available for purchase.