Mike Smith

Location: Denbighshire, Wales, United Kingdom
Known For: Cultivator of the Dragon’s Breath chili pepper

Mike Smith is a Welsh horticulturist and nursery owner best known for cultivating the Dragon’s Breath, a chili pepper that gained international attention in 2017 for its claimed extreme heat — reportedly surpassing 2.4 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU), which would make it hotter than the Carolina Reaper. Smith runs ChilliBobs, a nursery and farm in Denbighshire, North Wales.

The Dragon’s Breath pepper was developed in partnership with Nottingham Trent University and originally intended for medicinal use, specifically as a topical anesthetic alternative for patients allergic to traditional anesthetics. The pepper was grown by Smith using seeds developed by Neal Price, a hobby grower. Smith helped refine and cultivate the pepper to maturity, after which it was submitted for testing and publicity.

The Dragon’s Breath sparked significant debate in the chili community. While some independent labs did test the pepper's heat at levels rivaling or surpassing the Reaper, Guinness World Records never officially recognized it due to lack of verified documentation. The pepper became a viral sensation — featured in The Telegraph, BBC, and The Guardian — largely due to claims that it was “so hot it could kill you.” Smith himself stated the pepper was never intended for consumption.

Despite the controversy, Mike Smith's work highlighted the crossover between horticulture, medical research, and chili breeding — and proved that even small nurseries could reach the global spotlight with a well-documented cultivar.

Notable Creations / Contributions:

  • Dragon’s Breath (cultivated, though initial genetic work attributed to Neal Price)
  • Media spotlight on non-culinary uses of superhot peppers

Legacy:
Mike Smith brought global attention to chili peppers not just as culinary ingredients, but as botanical tools with potential health applications. While the Dragon’s Breath remains controversial, it sparked new interest in both the scientific and chili-growing communities.

Sources / References

  1. The Telegraph – “Dragon’s Breath: World’s Hottest Chili Pepper Grown in UK” (May 2017)
  2. BBC News – “Dragon’s Breath Chili Developed in Wales” (2017)
  3. The Guardian – Reports on Dragon’s Breath and capsaicin toxicity concerns
  4. Nottingham Trent University – Collaboration on medical applications of capsaicin
  5. The Hot Pepper Forum – Community discussions and clarifications on Guinness status