Discover the Carolina Reaper Caramel, an exceptionally hot pepper variety that will appeal to extreme pepper enthusiasts, collectors of rare varieties, and gardeners who love a thrill. 

With 20 Carolina Reaper Caramel pepper seeds, you can grow an extraordinary pepper known for its searing heat and fruity aromas. This striking variety is one to grow to expand your collection of superhot peppers and make your own homemade hot sauces.

Carolina Reaper Caramel: extreme heat and surprising flavors

Created by Ed Currie, founder of the PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina, USA, the red Carolina Reaper made its mark on hot pepper history. It held the Guinness World Record for the world's hottest pepper from 2013 to 2023.

The Carolina Reaper has historically been measured at an average heat level of around 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), with some specimens reaching nearly 2.2 million SHU. These figures refer to the standard Carolina Reaper and are not a guaranteed measurement for every pepper of the Caramel variant.

Beyond its extreme heat, the Carolina Reaper Caramel offers an intriguing flavor profile: fruity notes, a sweetness reminiscent of cherry and chocolate, and subtle hints of citrus. Its intense heat contrasts with its complex flavors, making it a sought-after ingredient among fans of very hot sauces.

Carolina Reaper Caramel pepper characteristics

• Product: packet of 20 pepper seeds
• Variety: Carolina Reaper Caramel, a brown variant of the Carolina Reaper
• Type: superhot pepper
• Heat level: extremely hot
• Color when ripe: brown to reddish-brown
• Fruit shape: irregular surface, bumpy appearance, and distinctive pointed tip
• Flavor: fruity and aromatic, with notes reminiscent of cherry, chocolate, and citrus
• Growth habit: bushy
• Approximate height: up to around 90 cm
• Uses: hot sauces, drying, preserving, and freezing
• Growing conditions: in pots or in the ground with sufficient warmth and sunlight

How do you grow Carolina Reaper Caramel from seed?

The Carolina Reaper Caramel needs warmth, especially during germination. For good results, sow early indoors in a warm, bright environment.

Sowing and germination

Sow the seeds in fine, light potting mix at a temperature between 28 and 30 °C. Germination can take around 8 to 14 days under good conditions, but it may take longer depending on seed freshness, humidity, and temperature. A mini greenhouse and a seedling heat mat can make this stage easier.

Transplanting young plants

Once the seedlings are sufficiently developed, carefully transplant them into individual pots. Avoid overwatering and make sure the containers have good drainage.

Sun exposure and watering

Place your pepper plant in a very sunny, warm spot sheltered from the wind. Ideally, provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Keep the growing medium slightly moist without letting water collect around the roots.

Outdoor planting

Wait until the risk of frost has passed, and plant outdoors when temperatures are consistently mild. Gradually acclimating the plants to outdoor conditions helps limit stress from the change in environment.

Growing in pots and overwintering

Growing this variety in a pot is especially useful because you can move the plant as the weather changes. In regions with cold winters, you can try keeping the plant from one year to the next by pruning it lightly and placing it in a bright spot at a temperature of at least 15 °C.

How can you use Carolina Reaper Caramel in cooking?

With its fruity flavor profile and exceptional heat, this pepper is best suited to recipes where a very small amount is enough.

• Making homemade hot sauces with fruity notes.
• Making very hot condiments for lovers of extreme peppers.
• Drying the peppers and grinding them into powder.
• Making preserves using methods suitable for peppers.
• Making superhot pepper blends to add heat to dishes sparingly.

Because of its intense heat, always start with a tiny amount and adjust with extreme caution. The Carolina Reaper Caramel is not a pepper meant to be eaten whole.

Handling precautions

The Carolina Reaper Caramel is an extremely hot pepper. Handling and eating it require special precautions.

Wear gloves when cutting or preparing the peppers, and avoid contact with your eyes, face, and mucous membranes. Keep seeds, peppers, and preparations out of reach of children. Do not taste a whole pepper or offer this pepper to anyone unaccustomed to superhot varieties.

Why choose these 20 Carolina Reaper Caramel seeds?

Whether you collect rare peppers, are a passionate gardener, or love extremely hot sauces, these seeds give you the chance to grow a variety remarkable for its color, appearance, and heat.

The Carolina Reaper Caramel combines the distinctive look of a brown pepper with fruity flavors and formidable heat. Grow your own superhot pepper and discover an iconic variety from the world of the hottest peppers.

Order your packet of 20 Carolina Reaper Caramel pepper seeds and start sowing to grow this exceptional variety!