Everyone wants to be the best – the fastest, the strongest, the smartest, and the bravest. It’s only natural that we have institutions dedicated to finding, measuring, and rewarding world record holders. But have you ever wondered who holds all the records for beef jerky? Who makes the best of the best? And whose jerky is the hottest of the hot?
Unfortunately, the Guinness Book of World Records hasn’t prioritized finding the hottest beef jerky on the planet just yet. However, as merchants of the finest beef jerky, we took it upon ourselves to do some research. While no beef jerky currently holds the official title of the hottest beef jerky in the world, we have our own rankings based on our expertise and knowledge.
Many claim the title of “Hottest Beef Jerky,” but one jerky stands out from the rest. Before we reveal that, let’s learn about what makes spicy beef jerky so hot.
What Gives Beef Jerky That Kick?
To add flavor to beef jerky, manufacturers use marinades and rubs during the jerky-making process. While most beef jerky connoisseurs keep their recipes a secret to beat the competition, we know a few ingredients for certain. After all, for beef jerky aficionados, the secret is usually in the sauce!
By incorporating the world’s hottest peppers into their marinades and rubs, manufacturers can create mind-blowing, tear-inducing, adrenaline-pumping beef jerky. The spiciest foods and hot sauces contain peppers like the Carolina Reaper, bhut jolokia (also known as the ghost pepper), and the Trinidad Scorpion.
This practice of using super-spicy ingredients is common in other industries as well. Ever heard of the world’s hottest chocolate?
The Scoville Scale – Measuring the “Hotness”
But to truly determine the “hotness” of beef jerky, we need a standardized system. Enter the Scoville scale. If you love spicy foods, chances are you’re already familiar with it.
Wilbur Scoville, an American pharmacist, chemist, and award-winning researcher, created this rating system back in 1912. We can also thank Scoville for being one of the first to mention that milk is an appropriate antidote for pepper heat – in case you ever wondered how dairy entered the picture. Needless to say, the man did his research.
A jerky’s heat is measured in Scoville units, which are based on the level of capsaicinoids present in the final product. Capsaicinoids are the compounds in peppers that create the heat sensation when consumed. So, the higher the capsaicinoid concentration, the hotter the beef jerky.
Introducing the World’s Hottest Beef Jerky
Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for. Which jerky has the highest Scoville scale rating? It goes by the fitting name of “The World’s Hottest Beef Jerky.” This extreme treat is created by The Key’s Family Butcher Shop in Van Buren, Arkansas, a family business that has been making mouth-watering jerky since 1952!
This positively incendiary beef jerky boasts an impressive score of 15 million Scovilles. Even if it wasn’t officially named the “World’s Hottest,” you’d be hard-pressed to find a beef jerky with a higher Scoville score.
The Key’s Family Butcher Shop crafts this jerky using premium beef flank steak and a secret spice blend. This blend combines peppers like the Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion, ghost pepper, and a newly developed pepper specially bred for its astronomically high capsaicinoid concentration. The ominously named “X-pepper” takes this jerky to extreme levels of heat and spiciness.
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