Hot Sauce Fun Fact - How to Extinguish the Burn!
Ever tackle a Hot Sauce that was way out of your league and set yourself ablaze? Haven't we all? Here are a few pointers to help extinguish the heat!
1) Opt for whole milk or full-fat sour cream or yogurt to do the trick. It works just like soap dissolving grease particles when cleaning dishes. Milk will dissolve and remove capsaicin from the reactive area.
2) Capsaicin also dissolves in alcohol. Swigs of alcohol can also have the added benefit of blacking out all memory of the burn.
3) Choose olive oil, or peanut butter. Both products are high in fat and oil that can help in removing the spiciness easily.
4) Rice and bread won't dissolve capsaicin like fats, oils, and alcohol, but they will act like a crude mop to soak up the molecules and stop the scorching feeling.
5) A spoonful of sugar should help, or honey can help. The sugar in honey and the granules can absorb the spicy oil and will provide instant relief.
6) A lime or lemon may help too. A slice of lemon or citrus fruit will help neutralize the capsaicin by binding with them, kind of like what dairy can do.
7) Try creamy fruits and veggies like avocados and banana. The silky texture will help remove the capsaicin from the mouth easily.
Chile Pepper Fun Fact - 5 Good Reasons to Spice up Your Life!
Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper - 5 good reasons to spice up your life!
Looking to add a little spice to your life — or your diet? Cayenne pepper may be just what the doctor ordered. This popular red pepper adds versatile flavor to your meals and is chock-full of health benefits to boot.
“Cayenne peppers are a great addition to a healthy diet,” says registered dietitian Alexis Supan, RD. Here’s why cayenne pepper deserves a spot in your kitchen cabinet — and how to add it to your dining routine.
- Provides beneficial plant compounds your body needs
- Protects your heart and can lower blood pressure
- Improves your digestion
- Helps maintain a healthy weight
- Can ease pain and clear congestion
Cayenne peppers are a good source of nutrients. In particular, they are rich in:
-Vitamin C
-Vitamin A
-Vitamin B6
-Vitamin K
The Vitamin A in Cayenne peppers is an essential nutrient. It plays an important role in:
-Vision
-Reproduction
-Immune system health
-Proper function of the heart, lungs, kidneys and other organs
Chile Pepper Fun Fact - The Habanada Chile Pepper
Habanada Pepper... Heat Level = Nada!
Taking a hard left turn from the hottest pepper, the Habanada pepper was bred to have the flavor of a Habanero, with no heat. These peppers come in at 0 SHU's on the Scoville scale, but they have the familiar, floral flavor of the Habanero pepper.
The Habanada also has a beautiful orange color with an interesting wrinkled texture. They may look like a hot pepper, but they’re no hotter than your standard green bell pepper! Grow them yourself and fool your friends into thinking you can handle eating a raw Habanero!
The Habanada pepper was developed by Michael Mazourek, a plant breeder at Cornell. He is also known for his work on creating the honeynut squash (a smaller, sweeter variety of butternut squash).
Chile Pepper Fun Fact - Guam Boonie Peppers
The attraction of the Guam Boonie is its heat. It can be very intense at first and then evens out and lingers on your tongue and lips which can last for a while (about four to seven times longer than a jalapeno). It can also cause a little numbness. There's definitely a lot of tingling going on. Another attribute of the Boonie is that its heat can be amplified by crushing them (using a mortar and pestle or a small bowl and the back of a spoon). The heat tends to also bring out the sweetness in foods. So, what hits your palate first is the heat, then sweet followed by the other flavors of the dish giving a greater depth to your flavor profiles when used correctly. Guamanians do not usually dry these peppers; they prefer them fresh. If not fresh, then frozen and maybe as a last resort, in a paste.
To grow Boonie Peppers, the plants like lots of sunlight, growing space, mild to very warm temperatures, and humidity. They easily die in the cold. But once the fruit is harvested, it can easily be kept fresh longer by freezing with the stems on. Take them out of the freezer and leave them on the counter until they reach room temperature, and they are almost as good as fresh.
The Boonie Pepper is a relative of the Thai Bird Chile and Malagueta/Malaga Bird Pepper. While they are similar in looks, they are distinctly different peppers in heat and taste. These peppers are like coffee beans. While most look the same, their taste differs depending on the climate, soil, and growing conditions. The Thai Chili tends to be more on the "sweeter" side, meaning less heat and a more subtle flavor than the Guam Boonie. The Malagueta comes close to heat, but its effects are not as long-lasting.
Chile Pepper Fun Fact - China Leads the World in Growing Chile Peppers
The country that grows the most chilli peppers is China, with an annual production volume of 18,535,308 tonnes (20.43 million tons) of fresh and dried chillies, according to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This accounts for 45.2% of the global production of chillies.
Hot Sauce Fun Fact - Hot Sauce Market
Statistically speaking, Hot Sauce is pretty HOT
The global hot sauce market reached a value of US$ 4.5 Billion in 2020. The market is forecast to exhibit moderate growth during 2021-2026. Hot sauce or chili sauce is manufactured using chili peppers, vinegar and other ingredients. It is used as condiments, dressings and seasonings. Hence, it can be consumed along with cooked food or used as an ingredient in cooking to add complementary or contrasting flavors. It has become a significant part of the modern kitchen; however, the preparation styles and flavors are different across the globe.
The demand for hot sauce has been witnessing significant growth with increasing popularity of Pan Asian and Latin American cuisines across the globe. Introduction of innovative sauce flavors with health beneficial attributes have further augmented the demand for hot sauce. In addition, increasing consumption of fast and frozen foods among the busy city-dwellers, especially in the emerging countries, has also led to an increased usage of hot sauce, thereby creating a positive impact in the market.
Apart from that, increasing urban population, modernization of storage and logistics, rising number of expatriates in countries and cultural exchanges are some of the other factors that catalyze the growth of the hot sauce market.
The report has also examined the competitive landscape of the market. Some of the major players include McIlhenny Company, McCormick and Co., Huy Fong Food, Baumer Foods, Garner Foods, B&G Foods, Kraft Heinz, Salsa Tamazula, Bruce Foods, Schwartz, etc.
Hot Sauce Fun Fact - Global Hot Sauce Market Trends
Hot Sauce is spicing up the whole world!
According to the latest report by IMARC Group, titled “Hot Sauce Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026,” the global hot sauce market reached a value of US$ 4.5 Billion in 2020. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to exhibit moderate growth during 2021-2026. Hot sauce or chili sauce is prepared using chili peppers mixed with other ingredients like salt, vinegar, vegetables, fruits, garlic, etc. It is commercially made by combining chili pepper paste with red tomato puree, which is then cooked to achieve a distinct flavor. Hot sauce adds a complementary or spicy flavor to a variety of dishes. As a result, it is used as a condiment, dressing, and seasoning ingredient in numerous cuisines worldwide.
The increasing popularity of Pan Asian, African, and Latin American cuisines across the globe is one of the key factors for the global hot sauce market growth. Moreover, the introduction of new and innovative sauce flavors that are also beneficial to health is further augmenting the demand for different hot sauce variants worldwide. In addition to this, the growing consumption of processed and frozen foods, particularly among the working population, has also led to an increased usage of hot sauce, thereby creating a positive impact on the market. Additionally, the expanding urban population, wide product availability in flexible packaging materials, and introduction of organic product variants, are some of the other factors catalyzing the growth of the global hot sauce market.
Chile Pepper Fun Fact - The Giant Szegedi Sweet Pepper
What is considered the sweetest Chile Pepper?
Capsicum Annuum. The Giant Szegedi sweet pepper is originally from Hungary. It is a heart-shaped pepper that starts out whitish yellow then ripens through orange to red when fully ripe, where it is at its sweetest.
This is a rare variety from Hungary. Rare meaning it’s not found in the U.S. produce market. It is a Sweet paprika type that resembles a medium size bell pepper. The Szegedi Giant ripens from creamy white, then yellow and finally orange to red. It can be harvested at any color stage and flavor will vary with each color. It is a very sweet pepper that produces abundant fruits up to 4 inches in length. Ideal for salads, roasting or stuffing. The Szegedi Giant chile plants grow between 2 to 3 feet tall.
Chile Pepper Fun Fact - Bhut Jolokia aka the Ghost Pepper
What's up with the ghostly heat of the Ghost Pepper anyway...
The name Ghost Pepper simply comes from the chili’s official Indian name, the Bhut Jolokia. Bhut in Indian means “Ghost”. There are many variations on this name: ghost chili, Bhoot Jolokia, Naga Bhut Jolokia, Red Naga chili, and more. In fact, in India, the name for this chili differs from region to region. But we can all agree that in English, Ghost Pepper fits just perfectly − it scares the pants off of your taste buds.
Though what’s interesting about the Ghost’s spiciness is its slow burn. Some super-hots attack the front of your mouth with full force quickly. You know it’s dangerous the minute you bite. The Ghost Pepper plays differently. It’s extremely hot on first bite, but the heat slowly builds, moving to the back of your throat, and lingers for a prolonged time. For some, it can take 15 to 30 minutes to clear the intensity of the heat.
Because of this prolonged extreme heat and formidable name, the Ghost Pepper has become something of a legend in chili pepper eating dares. Many popular YouTube videos have been shot of people downing a raw Bhut Jolokia in a few quick bites. And then the body’s responses begin. Over time, the heat of this pepper will bring out hiccups, intense burning, numbness, eye-watering, and general sweating.
Chile Pepper Fun Fact - The Ghost Pepper
Why Is a Ghost Pepper Called a Ghost Pepper?
The word "bhut" means "ghost", given from the Bhutias people, possibly because the heat sneaks up on you like a ghost. The ghost pepper is also known by the following names - Naga Jolokia, Bhut Jolokia, Bih jolokia, Nagahari, Raja Mircha, Raja chilli, Borbih jolokiai or Ghost Chili. Note: "Naga" means "Cobra Snake" in Sanskrit.
The ghost pepper was in the running for the hottest pepper in the world for quite some time - in fact, it actually held the Guinness Book of World Record's record for the world's hottest pepper from 2007 until 2010. The bhut jolokia is a naturally growing pepper that can be found primarily in northeastern India and neighboring Bangladesh. However, species can also be found in Sri Lanka occasionally. Due to the fact that "bhut" means "ghost" in the Assam language, this pepper is often called the "ghost pepper," in the Western world. These peppers have dented skin that is very thin and easy to tear.