Meet Jeff Hails

Meet Jeff Hails: The Grower Behind Our Dragon’s Breath Pepper

At SpiceQuest, we’re honored to collaborate with passionate growers whose dedication and expertise bring extraordinary peppers to life. Meet Jeff Hails, a Kansas City-based pepper grower whose journey into the world of superhots is a testament to creativity, perseverance, and an unrelenting love for heat.

Jeff’s adventure began about 8–9 years ago with just two plants: a Carolina Reaper and a Ghost Pepper. From that small start, he began crafting hot sauces, jellies, salts, and anything his imagination (and the internet) could dream up. What began as a hobby for friends and family quickly grew into a thriving passion project.

Jeff’s big break came when he started growing his own seedlings. “I didn’t think they’d all take,” he recalls, “but almost every seed sprouted, and suddenly I had 30 plants to manage!” After giving away half, he planted the rest—and soon faced the challenge of dealing with a bumper crop of fiery peppers. The solution? Mass-producing his now-famous Smoked Reaper, Dragon’s Breath, and White Ghost Hot Sauces, alongside selling fresh peppers to spice lovers across the country.

That’s when Jeff first connected with SpiceQuest, selling his prized Dragon’s Breath Peppers for our Limited Edition series. “After selling the peppers, I checked out the company and was impressed with all the research and testing they do,” Jeff shares. “I was happy my peppers were good enough to make the cut.”

In addition to growing some of the world’s hottest peppers, Jeff continues to sell his unique smoked hot sauce and Reaper salt, shipping them from Kansas City, Missouri, to spice enthusiasts everywhere.

We’re thrilled to feature Jeff’s Dragon’s Breath Peppers in our Limited Edition series. His dedication to his craft and his willingness to experiment with bold flavors are what make his peppers truly exceptional.

Want to connect with Jeff?
If you’re interested in Jeff’s unique smoked hot sauces or pepper creations, you can find him on Facebook: Jeff Hails.

Let’s celebrate Jeff’s incredible work and the fiery creations he brings to the spice-loving community!