Hottest fresh pepper I've tried was a Bhut Jolokia (Ghost) pepper. shyt was so fukking hot!
In 2009, scientists at India's Defence Research and Development Organisation announced plans to use the peppers in hand gernades as a non lethal way to flush out "terrorists" from their hideouts and to control rioters. It will also be developed into pepper spray as a self-defense product.
R. B. Srivastava, the director of the Life Sciences Department at the New Delhi headquarters of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation(who also led a defense research laboratory in Assam), said bhut jolokia-based aerosol sprays could be used as a "safety device", and "civil variants" of chili grenades could be used to control and disperse mobs.