Notorious for being 400 times spicier than a jalapeno chilli pepper, ‘Carolina Reaper’ is justly feared as being one of the hottest peppers in the world, with an average of 1.6 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU)! With fiery, bumpy fruits 5-7.5cm (2-3in) long and carrying a characteristic ‘scorpion tail’, the pods have a fruity flavour (if you can detect it over the heat!).

Perhaps one for the novelty factor and/or for drying and adding to sauces and dishes at a later date, this capsicum is certainly best when used sparingly, as a little can go a long way. Pick your chillies once they turn red, and always wear gloves when handling the pods.