The #spicy hashtag on Instagram has more than 12 million posts, and it’s full of all things spicy: hard seltzers, sauces, cocktails, rubs, oils and, of course, spicy jerky treats.
In fact, it seems as though food companies are leap-frogging over one another in efforts to become the World’s Hottest Whatever, incorporating some of the hottest peppers on the planet.
Our spicy collection of beef and bacon jerky includes several of these spicy trends, including ghost pepper, sriracha and Carolina Reaper.
What Is The Hottest Pepper In The World?
According to Guinness World Records, the Carolina Reaper is the hottest pepper in the world, coming in at 2.2 million on the Scoville heat scale. The only thing hotter? Pepper spray, which typically ranks between 2 million and 5 million Scoville heat units (SHU). For a little more context, consider that a jalapeño pepper is only about 2,500 to 8,000 SHU.
In 2013, Ed Currie of South Carolina developed the Carolina Reaper pepper by crossing a Caribbean La Soufriere pepper with a Pakistani Naga Viper pepper. Currie told Wired readers: “For those of you out there that want to eat a whole Carolina Reaper, I highly recommend that you do not do it.”
He’s right. We recommend trying it in a sauce or rub, including Savage Jerky’s Reaper beef jerky. We double-dog-dare you to try it without crying.
When Did The Hotter-Than-Hot Food Trend Start?
Spicy trends in food are nothing new, but two innovations in 2009 kicked off a trend that has not slowed down.
- 2009: Ghost pepper and Sriracha sauce enter the vernacular among hot and spicy foodies.
- 2011: Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (2 million SHU) and Trinidad Butch T Scorpion (1.5 SHU) peppers are named the world’s hottest peppers, but not for long.
- 2013: The US-bred Carolina Reaper Peppers knock Trinidad’s peppers off the world record.
- 2017: Two peppers emerge on the spicy-food scene — Dragon’s Breath Pepper (2.48 SHU) and the stupid-hot Pepper X (3.48 SHU) — the latter of which is another Ed Currie creation.
As of 2022, Guinness has yet to recognize either the Pepper X or Dragon’s Breath as world’s hottest peppers. Perhaps they’re waiting for their taste buds to return to normal after testing Carolina Reapers in 2013. Wimps.
Spiciest Jerky Snacks — Bacon and Beef Jerky
Savage Jerky has beef and bacon jerky treats that will add spice to your day, from eye-watering extreme heat to minor kicks from cayenne or sriracha.
Hot and Spicy Beef Jerky
Grab-and-go beef jerky packs listed here are from most to least hot:
- EXTREME: Carolina Reaper for an eye-watering sizzle
- VERY Hot: Ghost Pepper beef jerky with buffalo sauce for a lingering burn
- Just Hot: Habanero Mojo beef jerky to clear your sinuses
- Medium Heat: Bold Teriyaki beef jerky with just a touch of spice
Shop the Spicy Beef Jerky Collection
Sweet, Savory and Spicy Bacon Jerky
And, for bacon lovers, we present our hottest, spiciest, and also most mouth-watering bacon jerky snacks, from most to least hot:
- EXTREME: Stung bacon jerky with a little Carolina Reaper just for fun
- Medium Heat: Maple Cayenne bacon jerky is mildly spiced with a dash of cayenne in Savage's signature buffalo sauce
- Medium Heat: Sweet & Savory bacon jerky spiced up with a little sriracha for a kick
Save time and get the Heat Lover's Pack featuring a package each of Ghost Pepper, Reaper, Stung, and Tangy Habanero.