Death Strain

AJ Drew · Aug 30, 2017

Now here is a blast from the past. Wasn't it 2010 when people started talking about the Death Strain. Was it HP58? The thing that looked like a wonkey Carolina Reaper. Was suppose to topple the Carolina Reaper's title. Flash forward 7 years and now it is Pepper X that is suppose to take out Carolina Reaper. But what happened to Death Strain?

To go from pod reviews to available in 7 years doesn't seem like a stretch at all. Sure, stability is said to take 8 generations but at the pod reviewer stage I am sure a few of those are already knocked down. So what gives? I get the feeling when something hotter comes along people just kind of give up on previous attempts.

You got two kids. One is good at football and you go a cheering every game. Other kid gets better at football so you ignore the first one? Its as if Pepper X is a better shot so Death Strain doesnt get any of the love anymore.

Spokanepepperman · Aug 30, 2017

I remember wanting it think it was hp56 tho I'd still want to check it out. It's funny I was just talking to my son about it last week.

Alchymystic · Aug 30, 2017

Can’t forget the ‘Turd Pepper’! Between the Death Strain and the announcement of ‘Pepper X’, the Turd Pepper was claimed to be the hottest (assuming this is all in the context of the Puckerbutt camp and other things like the Louisiana Creeper, etc. aside). Since there hasn’t been a picture of Pepper X released that I’m aware of, perhaps it’s the Turd rebranded (or rebranded again since the ‘turd’ name was dropped and then known as the ‘Gator’ from which the Gator Squeezins sauce was made). Add to that the fact that there have been claims to be a handful of strains that can be released to reclaim the record if something else comes along and dethrones the Reaper… it doesn’t always have to go straight to the hottest right off the bat… a tit for tat battle strategy instead of just dropping the nuke to put them all down. That’s a smart approach I think, always having something hotter up your sleeves no one knows about that can be released if needed to tip the scales back in your favor. I’m curious about all this as well; it will be interesting when things/more information is released (officially).

BlackFatalii · Aug 30, 2017

Yeah, seems like there was some buzz about the HP56 Death Strain a few years ago and then it just went away. Kind of odd. Anyway, Hot Ones has already made a sauce with this new Pepper X, so maybe this one won't just disappear like the HP56.

Alchymystic said:
since the ‘turd’ name was dropped and then known as the ‘Gator’ from which the Gator Squeezins sauce was made

Yeah, I guess they figured that they probably wouldn't sell too many bottles of "Turd Squeezins" :rofl:

Jase4224 · Aug 31, 2017

What is the Pepper X? Haven't heard of it

Guitarman · Aug 31, 2017

Marketing strategies

AJ Drew · Aug 31, 2017

Jase4224 said:
What is the Pepper X? Haven't heard of it

Its another next hottest pepper in the world. This from Puckerbutt.

My thinking is wow, no photographs, no tests published, no name to speak of, but it is already selling hot sauce Just sort of wow..

Bicycle808 · Aug 31, 2017

Yeah, I think that about sums it up. How hard is it too show is some pics? Give a pod to someone you can trust to review it without saving seeds? Or, if secrecy is a priority, maybe don't bother hyping it at all... Releasing a sauce before we even see a pod seems a bit shady

SmokenFire · Aug 31, 2017

Bicycle808 your post was repeated a few times so I deleted the extras.

BlackFatalii · Sep 1, 2017

Bicycle808 said:
Releasing a sauce before we even see a pod seems a bit shady

Well, to be fair I think the sauce (called "the Last Dab") is only being used for the "Hot Ones" YouTube show show right now. As far as I know it is not available to the general public yet, but they say it will be at some point in the future.

spicefreak · Sep 1, 2017

Correct. The sauce is currently a show exclusive and all we actually know about the pepper are claims that it is over 3 million (preliminary tests said 3.3, new rumours say just below 3.2) and that it has never been seen before (so not Death Strain or Gator).

AJ Drew · Sep 1, 2017

spicefreak said:
Correct. The sauce is currently a show exclusive and all we actually know about the pepper are claims that it is over 3 million (preliminary tests said 3.3, new rumours say just below 3.2) and that it has never been seen before (so not Death Strain or Gator).

I think showing a pepper might wind up helping the BS copy cat folk. I have what was reported to be "Death Strain" growing right now. Looks much like the FBI pod review. Person claimed it came from reviewer seeds. Gifted them to me. It does look kind of right, but I think he is mistaken.

On the sauce, didn't Gourmet Jigsaw make its self known that way but in a powder? I think there was a period when you could not purchase seed, plant, or pods but you could buy the powder. I remember getting seed from someone in Itally that claimed to have gotten a few viable seeds from that powder and grew them out. Didn't know much about it at the time, but seemed fun to grow them.

So much secret agent stuff going on in the pepper business.

Bicycle808 · Sep 1, 2017

BlackFatalii said:
Well, to be fair I think the sauce (called "the Last Dab") is only being used for the "Hot Ones" YouTube show show right now. As far as I know it is not available to the general public yet, but they say it will be at some point in the future.

I see your point but, to be honest, that fact just makes me suspect they're using repackaged Tapatio for the final round on the show lol.

Whenever I create something new, I am always psyched to share it and get feedback. Maybe that's just me, but I don't think so. A lot of ppl in the food biz are like that. If they just sit on this thing till the buzz does, they'll end up with another Death Strain/Turd Pepper/Gator Squeezer. Name of the game is, CYA when applicable and get it out to the public...

Jase4224 · Sep 2, 2017

I think it's cool that people are trying to grow ever hotter chillies but the whole secrecy thing is just bullshit.

Share what you have once you have stabilised it, be transparent and honest or don't bother.

This whole crap of "I have this 50million SHU Pepper but don't feel like releasing it, just thought I'd tell everyone that I have it though" is just a jerk off.

spicefreak · Sep 2, 2017

Jase4224 said:
50million SHU Pepper

Are we talking about the spontaneous combustion pepper again because that really was BS. The most idiotic thing I'd ever heard.

As for The Last Dab, it's mustard, ginger, cumin and termeric with a bit of chilli in there somewhere. Of course it doesn't beat extract sauce. They should probably be honest about that, though, instead of doing all these stupid publicity "bonus" videos.

AJ Drew · Sep 2, 2017

Jase4224 said:
This whole crap of "I have this 50million SHU Pepper but don't feel like releasing it, just thought I'd tell everyone that I have it though" is just a jerk off.

Two people crossing the same strain will have different results. So the secrecy kind of weirds me out. But I have to figure the other stuff is markieting cause it usually comes from top of the food chain sort of growers.