Meet the Apollo pepper: Is it the new hottest pepper in the world?

The Apollo pepper is a newcomer in the spicy world, and details about it remain scant. The most important thing to know is that it is an UNFATHOMABLY hot pepper.

Read on to learn everything we know, plus our best guesses for what we don’t know. 

What are Apollo peppers?

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Ed Currie from Puckerbutt Pepper Co. introduced the Apollo pepper as a new contender for the world’s hottest title. This fiery variant debuted in Hot Ones Season 13’s “Last Dab” hot sauce. 

Watch Sean Evans introduce the Last Dab Apollo hot sauce here:

The Apollo pepper is a hybrid of the past record-holding Carolina Reaper and the intensely spicy current king, Pepper X. However, specifics about the Apollo pepper remain limited.

What do Apollo peppers look like?

While we lack exact images of the Apollo pepper, it’s inferred to bear a resemblance to its parent peppers: Carolina Reaper and Pepper X. Predictably, it’s about 2.5 to 3 inches in size, sporting a rough, textured skin typical for Capsicum chinense. Peppers from this lineage often have a rounded body with a distinct “scorpion” tail. Initial coloring is green, turning orange upon maturation.

How hot is the Apollo Pepper?

The Apollo pepper’s Scoville rating ranges between 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 SHU. This makes it up to 600 times spicier than jalapeños, categorizing it as “ultra-hot”. Such intensity means even a tiny amount can cause strong reactions, including irritating mucous membranes, eyes, and skin.

Is the Apollo Pepper the hottest pepper in the world?

As of now, the Apollo pepper hasn’t been crowned the world’s hottest pepper. While it’s claimed to be spicier than the past-recognized Carolina Reaper, its heat might fall short when compared to the current hottest pepper in the world, Pepper X.

Apollo vs. Carolina Reaper

Both the Apollo pepper and Carolina reaper share a close lineage. However, the Apollo’s starting heat level, 2.5 million SHU, already surpasses the Carolina Reaper’s peak of 2.2 million SHU. Despite these reports, without confirmed testing data, the Carolina reaper retains its position as the official world’s hottest pepper.

Apollo vs. Pepper X

Pepper X, another brainchild of Ed Currie and the Puckerbutt team, remains somewhat of a mystery. It’s said to hit an astonishing 3.18 million SHU, hinting at it being more intense than the Apollo, but with an average SHU of 2.69 million. Since the title for the world’s hottest pepper relies on the average SHU, not just the highest, the Apollo could still potentially surpass Pepper X in mean heat.

Apollo vs. ghost pepper

The ghost pepper, averaging around 1 million SHU, stands out as one of the fiercest peppers accessible to consumers. But, stacked against the Apollo pepper and its towering 3 million SHU, the ghost pepper’s heat is substantially milder in comparison.

What does the Apollo pepper taste like?

Beyond its scorching heat, the Apollo pepper combines flavor notes from its lineage. You’ll detect undertones of sweetness and fruitiness from the Carolina Reaper, paired with a pronounced earthy richness reminiscent of the Pepper X.

How is the Apollo pepper used?

For now, the Apollo pepper remains largely inaccessible, with its only public presence being a Heatonist hot sauce, “The Last Dab: Apollo”. The actual pepper and its seeds are not available in stores. The sauce is notably intense in its heat, so when used, just a few drops will elevate the spice levels of marinades, chilis, or other dishes.

Where to get Apollo hot sauce

Heatonist is the primary distributor of the Apollo hot sauce. It can be easily procured online, with options like Amazon offering it for purchase. Click here to grab your bottle on Amazon.

The Apollo pepper has emerged as a strong contender in the quest to find the world’s hottest pepper. Originating from the creative minds at Puckerbutt Pepper Co, this pepper boasts an intimidating heat profile while maintaining a complex flavor. Although it’s still under wraps and hasn’t claimed the official title yet, its presence in the “Last Dab: Apollo” sauce offers a tantalizing hint of its fiery potential.