Pepper X — created by Ed Currie in 2023 — measured 2.69 million SHU, dethroning Currie's own Carolina Reaper as the world's hottest. From the chemistry of capsaicinoids to Louisiana barrel-aged fermentation, hot sauce spans botany, history, and global culture — and this quiz covers all of it across 50 expert questions.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll master the Scoville scale and HPLC testing, capsaicin chemistry and the TRPV1 receptor, the world's hottest peppers, iconic brands like Tabasco and Sriracha, fermentation and vinegar-based styles, and global traditions from Korean gochujang to Indonesian sambal to North African harissa.
As of 2023, Pepper X holds the Guinness World Record at 2.69 million SHU. It was created by Ed Currin of PuckerButt Pepper Company and eclipsed his earlier Carolina Reaper, which held the record from 2013 to 2023 at around 2.2 million SHU.
Tabasco mash is aged for up to three years in used white oak bourbon barrels on Avery Island, Louisiana. The oak mellows harsh flavors and allows natural fermentation to develop complexity that a fast-processed sauce cannot replicate.
Gochujang is a Korean fermented red chili paste made from gochu peppers, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt. It is deeply savory, mildly sweet, and moderately spicy — a cornerstone of Korean cooking used in dishes from bibimbap to tteokbokki.
Last updated: April 2026