Dragon's Breath (paprika)

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The Dragon's Breath is a cultivated form of the capsicum chinense pepper variety . However, it is now considered an internet phenomenon . In April 2017, there were claims that this variety had received an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the hottest chilli variety in the world, replacing the previous record holder Carolina Reaper from 2013. This claim has been refuted by the Guinness Book of Records, which is demonstrably unaware of this. It was warned against consumption as it could be fatal. This information is now also considered refuted.

background

The Welsh dragon was named after the breed

Michael Smith, a then 53-year-old breeder from St. Asaph in the Welsh county of Denbighshire , initially described the breed itself as an "accident". Her goal was not to break a record. For about seven years, Smith worked with scientists from Nottingham Trent University to grow a chilli pepper whose oil is so potent that it can be used as an anesthetic for allergy sufferers or as a cheap drug in the developing world . Consumption was therefore never an issue for his breeds. Dragon's Breath was nominated for Plant of the Year 2017 at the Chelsea Flower Show , made it onto the shortlist , but was not awarded in the final. The enormous sharpness, like the breath of a fire-breathing dragon, prompted Smith to give the breed the name Dragon's Breath , based on the heraldic animal of his native Wales .

description

The plant reaches a height of around one meter. Your berries , the chilli fruits, are about the size of a fingernail, round, wrinkled and red. Its severity level was determined with 2.48 million Scoville as the maximum and at the same time average value, which it surpasses the previous record of the Carolina Reaper, which reaches a maximum value of 2.2 million Scoville with an average value of 1.5 million Scoville. A whole fruit has not yet been tasted. Smith, who says he doesn't like spicy food, only touched part of the fruit with the tip of his tongue:

“I've tried it on the tip of my tongue and it just burned and burned. I spat it out in about 10 seconds. "

“I tried it with the tip of my tongue and it just stung and stung. After about 10 seconds I spat it out. "

- The Sun

The sharpness or burning sensation did not decrease for over 30 minutes, so Smith. He and the university staff generally advise against consuming Dragon's Breath, but still see the potential of breeding in pharmacological use .

Possible health consequences if consumed

Because of the extremely high capsaicin content , according to the experts involved, there is a general risk of circulatory collapse , which could even be fatal. Anaphylactic shock is also possible in sensitive people . The high concentration of the active ingredient could also cause the mucous membranes of the esophagus to swell extremely. For comparison: the commercially available Tabasco sauce has a Scoville value of 2500 to 5000. Pepper spray has up to 2 million Scoville. Thus, the Dragon's Breath is more substantial than the spray used as a weapon. It is therefore not recommended to consume it completely raw, which has not yet been reported.

criticism

The news about the new sharpness record was viewed with skepticism on the Internet from the start. Laboratory tests on the part of a commercial chili dealer show a Scoville value of just under 880,000.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c World’s hottest chilli pepper created in Wales to be used as an anaesthetic after doctors warn eating it will KILL you. The Sun . May 17, 2017, accessed September 18, 2017 .
  2. ↑ a b Dragon's Breath Chili. Wildcapsicum.org. January 7, 2018, accessed February 21, 2018 .
  3. ↑ This chili has a license to kill. T-Online.de . May 22, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017 .
  4. ^ Hottest chilli pepper in the world accidentally created by Welsh farmer. The Daily Telegraph . May 17, 2017, accessed September 19, 2017 .
  5. ↑ a b This is the hottest chili in the world. The world . May 23, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017 .
  6. ↑ Plant of the Year. The Royal Horticultural Society . Retrieved September 18, 2017 (English).
  7. ^ The New 'World's Hottest Pepper' Is Not For The Faint Of Heart. The Huffington Post . May 18, 2017, accessed September 18, 2017 .
  8. ↑ New 'World's Hottest' Chili Is Meant for Medicine and Never Ever for Food. Grub Street . May 18, 2017, accessed September 18, 2017 .
  9. ↑ Dragon's Breath - Fact or Fiction. February 16, 2018, accessed February 22, 2018 .