Sweetheat: what is in it and how hot it tested
Share
Sweetheat tested at about 5,500,000 Scoville heat units (SHU), and it contains natural capsaicin extract. The product page describes a yellow superhot pepper with extract added, and it does not name the pepper. That puts this SpiceQuest chili grinder at about 5.6 times our pure Carolina Reaper, no. 9 Reaper X, which tested at 975,612.
What the product page says is in it
The Sweetheat page describes two things. The first is a yellow superhot pepper, golden in color with bumpy skin. We have not published which variety it is, so the name is not on the product page and it is not here.
The second is natural capsaicin extract, added to raise the heat. Our page on natural capsaicin extract explains what it is and lists every grinder that has it.
Where about 5,500,000 sits
| Grinder | Tested SHU | Natural capsaicin extract |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetheat | about 5,500,000 | Yes |
| No. 11 Hellraiser | about 3,500,000 | Yes |
| No. 10 Carolina Reaper | 2,235,842 | May contain some |
| No. 9 Reaper X | 975,612 | No |
Sweetheat is about 1.6 times no. 11 Hellraiser, the top of our numbered scale, and about 2.5 times no. 10. On our tier list it is Nuclear, the tier that starts at 3,000,000.
Two blends on our Scoville chart tested higher, and both contain extract: PepperPlegic Chocolate Primotalii at about 6,000,000 and the League of Fire Competition Grinder at 7,412,912.
Lemon first, then the burn
The flavor comes before the heat. The product page describes citrus and fruit up front. The taste is lemony and slightly floral, with a tropical sweetness. Then the burn arrives. It starts on the tip of the tongue and spreads across the palate. It builds steadily and it lasts a long time.
One press is the place to start. Wait for the heat to finish building before you add a second.
Who should buy it
Sweetheat suits someone who already eats superhots, wants more heat than a pure pepper gives and likes a citrus taste. It is not a first superhot, and it is not a gift for someone you are unsure about.
It is a limited release, and the product page shows whether it is available. Keep it away from children, and read our ultra-hot safety page before you open it.
If the person likes a darker taste, PepperPlegic Chocolate Primotalii is the other direction. If they want the top of the numbered set, that is no. 11 Hellraiser.
Questions people ask
Which pepper is in Sweetheat? The product page does not name it. It describes a yellow superhot pepper, and it says natural capsaicin extract is added.
Is Sweetheat hotter than a Carolina Reaper? Yes. Sweetheat tested at about 5,500,000 SHU and our pure Reaper, no. 9 Reaper X, at 975,612. Sweetheat contains natural capsaicin extract and Reaper X does not, so this is not a comparison of two pure peppers.