A man in Canada has broken the Guinness World Record by eating 25 Carolina Reaper chili peppers consecutively in over 4 minutes. The Carolina Reaper was once known as the world’s hottest pepper, causing intense spiciness with just a tiny bite.
According to a report from the Guinness World Records website on March 6th, a YouTuber named Mike Jack, also known as Jack, is well-known for his high spice tolerance and frequently showcases himself eating extremely spicy foods on his show.
In September 2024, in the southern Ontario city of Kitchener, Jack consumed 25 Carolina Reaper chili peppers in 4 minutes and 36.26 seconds, setting the Guinness World Record for “eating 25 Carolina Reaper chili peppers in the fastest time.”
Now 42 years old, Jack expressed a bit of nervousness when reflecting on the challenge, not because of the spiciness of the peppers— he was confident in handling the heat— but rather due to the speed at which he had to consume them.
Prior to attempting the challenge, Jack mentioned that each pepper had to weigh at least 5 grams. He remarked that these peppers were a bit heavy, so eating them quickly meant ingesting more spiciness in a short period.
Jack had previously set two other Guinness World Records by consuming 50 peppers in 6 minutes and 49.20 seconds and 100 peppers in 36 minutes and 38.81 seconds, all Carolina Reaper chili peppers.
He noted that Carolina Reaper peppers, previously holding the title of the world’s hottest pepper, were surpassed by Pepper X in 2023. The spiciness of these peppers is so intense that most people wouldn’t dare to take a second bite.
The Scoville scale measure for Carolina Reaper peppers reached a staggering 1.64 million units as reported by Epoch Times previously.
The Scoville scale measures the level of capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers spicy, and was established by American chemist Wilbur Scoville in 1912. Capsaicin triggers a burning sensation when it comes into contact with human tissue.
Developed by Ed Currie from North Carolina, the Carolina Reaper pepper was surpassed by Pepper X, with a Scoville scale of 2.69 million units, certified as the world’s hottest pepper by Guinness World Records in 2023.
When asked about the techniques for breaking Guinness World Records, Jack mentioned that he often covers his mouth with his fist to prevent himself from spitting out the peppers. While the peppers generate a strong burning sensation, they do not create an actual hole in your stomach or throat.
Nevertheless, Jack warns against attempting to eat these peppers without the experience and tolerance he has built up. He advises that unless you are a seasoned professional like himself, refraining from trying to eat 25 Carolina Reaper chili peppers is highly recommended.