JAN 16TH: INTERNATIONAL HOT AND SPICY FOOD DAY
Written by Sneh Chaudhry on January 16, 2023
INTERNATIONAL HOT AND SPICY FOOD DAYEach year on January 16th, International Hot and Spicy Food Day celebrate all the delicious hot and spicy foods around the world.
Most people know that chilli peppers are one of the hottest foods on the planet. But did you know that the hottest chilli pepper in the world is always changing? This is because chilli peppers are constantly evolving. But how is the hottest chilli pepper determined? Chilli peppers contain Capsaicinoid. This is the active compound in chilli pepper that’s responsible for its spicy sensation. Capsaicinoids are measured by the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU).
Recently, the Carolina Reaper was named the hottest chilli pepper.
This super spicy chilli pepper has a SHU of 2,200,000. This is 200 times hotter than a jalapeno pepper! Can you imagine popping a Carolina Reaper into your mouth?
If that’s way too hot, here are some other chilli peppers that are a little less spicy:
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (2,009,231 SHU)
7 Pot Douglah (1,853,936 SHU)
Naga Viper (1,349,000 SHU)
Ghost Pepper (1,041,427 SHU)
Red Savina Habanero (500,000 SHU)
By comparison, the SHU of a jalapeno pepper is only between 2,500 and 8,000. Besides chilli peppers, some other hot and spicy foods worldwide include vindaloo, jerk chicken, Sichuan hot pot, and griot. Hot and spicy foods come from countries all around the world. There are some countries, however, that is famous for spicy foods. These countries include Thailand, Mexico, Malaysia, Korea, Jamaica, India, and China.
No matter what kind of spicy food you eat, be sure to have a glass of milk or cold yoghurt handy. Dairy products like milk and yoghurt ease the fiery feeling in your mouth. Whatever you do, don’t drink water, as this can actually make it worse. Eating hot and spicy foods is a great way to warm up if you live where it’s cold outside.
HOW TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL HOT AND SPICY FOOD DAY
Many restaurants offer specials on their hottest and spiciest dishes. Other events include habanero-eating challenges, costume contests, and cook-offs. To participate:
- Try a spicy dish that you have never eaten before
- Dine at a Thai, Korean, or Indian restaurant where that serves spicy food
- Learn about the different kinds of chilli peppers
- Make a recipe with a spice you’ve never used before
- Host a chilli cook-off with your friends or co-workers
- Don’t forget to share a picture of your favourite spicy food on social media with #InternationalHotAndSpicyFoodDay.
