Additional Coverage:
- I invented the world’s hottest pepper twice, in a top-secret location where my pickers carry firearms (businessinsider.com)
Fort Mill, SC — Ed Currie, the mastermind behind the Carolina Reaper and Pepper X, isn’t just farming peppers; he’s cultivating a legacy, one scorching pepper at a time. Currie, founder of the PuckerButt Pepper Company, recently sat down to discuss his passion, the challenges, and the surprising science behind growing the world’s hottest peppers.
Currie’s pepper breeding process is a meticulous blend of art and science, taking eight to ten years to develop a new variety. He utilizes crossbreeding techniques, carefully transferring pollen between plants with a simple paintbrush. “Out of 200 plants,” Currie explains, “maybe 20 will produce a viable fruit, and only half of those might reach maturity.”
But it’s not just about heat for Currie. “People think I’m chasing records,” he clarifies.
“I’m not. I like the challenge of making a pepper that’s both hot and tastes good.”
His dedication to flavor is matched by an equally intense focus on security. Currie’s pepper fields are scattered across secret locations in South Carolina, guarded against threats both human and animal.
While pepper thieves are a concern, Currie also contends with coyotes and copperheads. “We’ve got to be prepared,” he states.
As for those seeking to steal his prized peppers? “You’ll never find them,” Currie warns.
“Those fields are top secret.”
The South Carolina climate, with its rich soil, long growing seasons, and ample rainfall, provides the ideal environment for Currie’s peppers. He employs a natural pest control strategy, releasing ladybugs, lacewings, and praying mantises into his fields.
However, deer remain a persistent challenge, having once devoured over 30,000 plants in a single weekend. Fences now protect the precious crop from these hungry herbivores.
Currie’s connection to peppers goes beyond business. He credits them with aiding his recovery from addiction.
“Hot peppers release endorphins and dopamine,” he explains, “which can help take the edge off cravings.” He even starts his day with pepper oil in his coffee and regularly samples peppers throughout the day.
While Pepper X currently holds the world record for hottest pepper, Currie is already looking ahead. He has a new pepper poised to dethrone Pepper X, but is waiting for more data before its official release. And there’s another, even hotter variety in the works, still five to seven years away from its debut.
This pursuit of heat isn’t just about bragging rights; it’s about efficiency. Currie explains that most of his peppers are processed into mashes, powders, and sauces.
A smaller quantity of a super-hot pepper can achieve the same level of heat as a larger volume of milder peppers, maximizing the “bang for his buck.” This focus on innovation and efficiency ensures that Ed Currie remains at the forefront of the hot pepper industry, constantly pushing the boundaries of heat and flavor.