The Moruga Scorpion, a squat, reddish-orange chile with a perky tail, like a stinger, is over 300 times hotter than a jalapeño. It is one of a new class of chiles called “Superhots” that are, as the name implies, way, way hotter than most hot peppers.
Modern Farmer takes readers beyond the painful YouTube videos of daredevils scarfing bhut jolokias and into the history, science, and culture of the superhot chili pepper trend.
It’s a piece as strange and educational as Homer Simpson’s post–Guatemalan insanity pepper hallucination of a wise coyote with Johnny Cash’s voice.
