Scoville Heat: Dave's Hot Chicken Reaper Reviewed

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food chain that specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken. The menu is simple, with only a few combos, but the chicken comes in seven levels of spiciness, from no spice to reaper, referring to the infamous Carolina Reaper pepper. The reaper-level chicken is so spicy that customers are required to sign a waiver acknowledging the potential risks, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, and even death. While the reaper chicken is claimed to contain 2 million Scoville units, some customers dispute this, arguing that the spice level is inconsistent across locations and that the addition of other ingredients dilutes the concentration of capsaicinoids.

Dave's Hot Chicken's Reaper chicken is rated at 2 million Scoville units

Dave's Hot Chicken Reaper

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food chain that specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken. It started as a tiny stand in a Los Angeles parking lot in 2017 and has since expanded to over 100 locations worldwide. The chain offers a range of spice levels for its chicken, from "no spice" to "reaper," the latter being the hottest option on the menu.

The Reaper chicken at Dave's is rated at 2 million Scoville units, which is a measure of spiciness. It is made with Carolina Reaper peppers, which are known for their extreme heat. The Scoville scale is a measurement of the spicy heat of chili peppers, and 2 million Scoville units indicate an extremely high level of spiciness. To put this into perspective, the average reaper pepper can range from less than 2 million Scoville units to slightly above, and jalapeños, which are commonly considered hot, are only around 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units.

Due to the intense heat of the Reaper chicken, Dave's requires customers to sign a waiver before consuming it. The waiver releases the restaurant from liability and states that eating the Reaper chicken can cause harm, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional stress, and even death. Despite the warnings, many people have taken on the "Reaper challenge," including celebrities such as Usher and Kelly Jackson, a Dave's Hot Chicken franchisee.

While the heat level of the Reaper chicken is undoubtedly high, some customers have expressed skepticism about the 2 million Scoville unit claim. They argue that the presence of other ingredients, such as chicken, bread, and sauces, would dilute the concentration of the pepper's heat. As a result, they believe that the actual Scoville units of the dish may be lower than advertised.

In conclusion, Dave's Hot Chicken's Reaper chicken, rated at 2 million Scoville units, offers a unique and intense spicy food experience. While the dish is extremely hot, it has gained popularity and attracted many brave souls willing to take on the challenge.

The dish includes a waiver due to its extreme heat

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food chain that specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken. The menu is simple, with only a few combos available, but the real variety comes from the spice levels. Customers can choose from seven levels of spiciness, ranging from "no spice" to "reaper," the latter referring to the infamous Carolina Reaper pepper.

The reaper-level chicken is not for the faint of heart. Before indulging in this fiery feast, customers are required to sign a waiver releasing Dave's from any liability due to the dish's extreme heat. The waiver states that consuming the reaper chicken can lead to "bodily injury, property damage, emotional stress, and even death." While the possibility of death might seem far-fetched, it is a testament to the intense spiciness of the dish.

The reaper chicken is not just a marketing gimmick; it delivers a serious punch of spice. Those who have braved the challenge describe a slow burn that creeps up on you. At first, it might not seem hotter than the other spice levels, but that is what makes it so dangerous. As you continue eating, the heat builds, leading to a torrent of tears, a runny nose, and even digestive issues later on.

The spice level of the reaper chicken is often debated, with some claiming it is not as hot as advertised. The advertised 2 million Scoville units are misleading, as the spice is diluted by the chicken and any accompanying sauces or bread. However, this does not make it any less spicy, and the heat can still catch you off guard.

Despite the waiver and the intimidating reputation, the reaper chicken remains a popular choice for spice enthusiasts. It has attracted celebrities like Usher, who took on the "reaper challenge," and even some franchisees have tasted the fiery fowl. For those who can handle the heat, it offers a unique and memorable dining experience.

It's prepared with a mix of chile peppers, including the Carolina Reaper

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food chain that offers Nashville-style hot chicken at seven spice levels, from "no spice" to "reaper". The reaper spice level is the hottest option on the menu and is prepared with a mix of chile peppers, including the Carolina Reaper.

The Carolina Reaper is a cultivar of the Capsicum chinense plant. It was developed by American breeder Ed Currie, who crossed a "really nastily hot" La Soufrière (Saint Vincent) Habanero pepper with a Naga pepper/Ghost pepper (bhut jolokia) from Assam. The pepper is red and gnarled, with a bumpy texture and a small, pointed tail. The word "reaper" was chosen by Currie due to the shape of the pepper's "sickle-like" tail.

The Carolina Reaper was the hottest chilli pepper in the world according to Guinness World Records from 2013 to 2023. Testing conducted by Winthrop University in South Carolina during the certification process showed an average heat level of 1,641,183 SHU for a given batch. However, individual peppers can vary, and some Carolina Reapers have been reported to have a heat level of up to 2.2 million SHU.

While Dave's Hot Chicken's Reaper spice level is prepared with Carolina Reaper peppers, it is unlikely that the chicken itself reaches 2 million SHU. The spice is cooked into the skin and breast of the chicken, and the addition of other ingredients, such as breading or sauce, would dilute the concentration of the peppers. Some people who have tried the Reaper chicken claim that it is not as spicy as they expected, and it is possible that the heat level varies between different locations of the chain.

Regardless of the exact Scoville rating, the Reaper chicken at Dave's Hot Chicken is considered very spicy. Customers are required to sign a waiver before consuming the Reaper chicken, acknowledging that eating it can cause harm, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional stress, and even death. While this may be somewhat exaggerated, it is important to approach this dish with caution and have milk or other cooling beverages on hand to help alleviate the spice.

The sandwich option is diluted with sauce, bread, and chicken

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food franchise that specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken. It offers seven levels of spiciness, from "no spice" to "reaper," referring to the infamous Carolina Reaper pepper. The reaper-level chicken is so spicy that customers are required to sign a waiver acknowledging the potential risks, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, and even death.

The reaper sandwich option at Dave's Hot Chicken is diluted with sauce, bread, and chicken. While the reaper pepper itself can reach up to 2 million Scoville units, the sandwich is a much milder option. The spiciness of the sandwich is affected by the amount of reaper powder used and the diluting effect of the other ingredients.

The sandwich includes a tender or slider with a slice of white bread, kale slaw, pickles, and Dave's sauce, which is an orange mayo mixture. These ingredients help to temper the heat of the reaper powder. The sauce, in particular, can cool down the spice by half. The chicken itself is also brined for hours before frying, which affects the overall spiciness of the sandwich.

While the reaper sandwich is diluted, it still packs a punch. Customers have reported that the sandwich is spicy and has caused physical reactions such as a runny nose, teary eyes, and a burning sensation. Some have even compared the spice level of the sandwich to biting into a red habanero pepper, which can range from 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville units. However, the sandwich is not as spicy as a pure reaper pepper or a reaper tender, which has no sauce or bread to dilute the spice.

Overall, the sandwich option for the reaper-level chicken at Dave's Hot Chicken is a diluted but still spicy choice. The sauce, bread, and chicken help to temper the heat of the reaper powder, making it a more manageable option for those who want to experience the famous spice level without the full intensity of the pepper.

The Reaper Tender is covered in Carolina Reaper powder

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food chain that specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken. Their menu is simple, with only a few combos available, but the real variety comes from the preparation and spice level of the chicken. Each piece of chicken is brined for hours and then fried, with the spice cooked into the skin and breast. Customers can choose from seven levels of spiciness, ranging from "no spice" to "Reaper," which is their hottest option.

There is some debate about the actual spiciness of the Reaper chicken. Some people claim that it is not as hot as advertised, with estimates placing it at around 150,000 Scoville units. It is speculated that the spice is diluted by the chicken and any accompanying sauces or bread. However, others have found it to be extremely spicy, requiring a waiver to be signed before consumption. This waiver releases Dave's from liability for any harm caused by the Reaper chicken, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional stress, or even death.

Despite the varying opinions on the spiciness, the Reaper Tender has gained a lot of attention and has even been tried by celebrities like Usher and Kelly Jackson, who is a Dave's Hot Chicken franchisee. It has also been featured on several lists of spicy foods and has a dedicated following of people who enjoy the intense heat it provides.

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