Lovers of spicy food often have the problem that they can't find condiments quite hot enough for them. Mere mortals may be screaming in agony while you feel only a slight tingling. If you want to really spice things up, maybe it's time to try ghost pepper hot sauce.
The ghost pepper is also known as the bhut jolokia. It's native to the northeastern Indian state of Assam. Depending on the variety, its texture can be uneven or smooth. When it's ripe, its color can vary from red or yellow to orange or even chocolate brown. A bhut jolokia chili is about two and a half inches long and about an inch in diameter.
People in Assam use the chilies to add flavor and spice to their food. It helps to combat the uncomfortably hot climate. In addition, it is used as a safety precaution against elephants. Villagers and farmers simply smear it on their fences and the pachyderms will stay away. The Indian military now even experiments with this fiery little fruit as an ingredient in pepper spray and smoke grenades.
The bhut jolokia is one of the hottest foods there is. It has a Scoville heat rating of about 1,000,000 units. It used to hold the record for the fieriest chili on Earth but the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and the Carolina Reaper have both surpassed it with ratings of over 1,500,000 SHU. If you wonder how hot this is, consider that the habanero, itself legendary for its heat, packs in only about 300,000 SHU at the most.
When you eat food containing ghost peppers, your first thought will probably be that it's not too bad. That is until about half a minute later, when the heat kicks in and you feel like you're at death's door. It gets even worse for the next fifteen minutes or so but after about half an hour you'll be able to breathe again. You'll pay dearly the next day, though. A good way to combat the burn is with milk, yogurt or ice cream. Carbonated drinks will make it worse so rather have your beer before.
It's not only eating the bhut jolokia that requires bravery. Working with these chilies in the kitchen requires protective gear worthy of a technician in a nuclear science lab. Gloves are essential because if the oil from the little peppers come into contact with your skin, it will burn like hell-fire. Even the fumes can be dangerous, so keep the windows wide open and wear a mask. Keep a special set of utensils for chili-containing foods because the oils don't wash off that easily.
If you like living dangerously but not enough to risk your life in the kitchen, a good option is to simply buy ready-made sauces. These usually have a vinegar base and also contain garlic, onions and other ingredients for flavor. Of course this is assuming that you'll be able to appreciate it with your mouth on fire.
Your grocery store will probably have ghost pepper hot sauce in stock, since this condiment is gaining in popularity. If not, you can order certain brands online. Of course if you want others to think that you were brave enough to make the condiments yourself, an excellent alternative is to look for homemade varieties at the farmer's market and simply remove the labels.
The ghost pepper is also known as the bhut jolokia. It's native to the northeastern Indian state of Assam. Depending on the variety, its texture can be uneven or smooth. When it's ripe, its color can vary from red or yellow to orange or even chocolate brown. A bhut jolokia chili is about two and a half inches long and about an inch in diameter.
People in Assam use the chilies to add flavor and spice to their food. It helps to combat the uncomfortably hot climate. In addition, it is used as a safety precaution against elephants. Villagers and farmers simply smear it on their fences and the pachyderms will stay away. The Indian military now even experiments with this fiery little fruit as an ingredient in pepper spray and smoke grenades.
The bhut jolokia is one of the hottest foods there is. It has a Scoville heat rating of about 1,000,000 units. It used to hold the record for the fieriest chili on Earth but the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and the Carolina Reaper have both surpassed it with ratings of over 1,500,000 SHU. If you wonder how hot this is, consider that the habanero, itself legendary for its heat, packs in only about 300,000 SHU at the most.
When you eat food containing ghost peppers, your first thought will probably be that it's not too bad. That is until about half a minute later, when the heat kicks in and you feel like you're at death's door. It gets even worse for the next fifteen minutes or so but after about half an hour you'll be able to breathe again. You'll pay dearly the next day, though. A good way to combat the burn is with milk, yogurt or ice cream. Carbonated drinks will make it worse so rather have your beer before.
It's not only eating the bhut jolokia that requires bravery. Working with these chilies in the kitchen requires protective gear worthy of a technician in a nuclear science lab. Gloves are essential because if the oil from the little peppers come into contact with your skin, it will burn like hell-fire. Even the fumes can be dangerous, so keep the windows wide open and wear a mask. Keep a special set of utensils for chili-containing foods because the oils don't wash off that easily.
If you like living dangerously but not enough to risk your life in the kitchen, a good option is to simply buy ready-made sauces. These usually have a vinegar base and also contain garlic, onions and other ingredients for flavor. Of course this is assuming that you'll be able to appreciate it with your mouth on fire.
Your grocery store will probably have ghost pepper hot sauce in stock, since this condiment is gaining in popularity. If not, you can order certain brands online. Of course if you want others to think that you were brave enough to make the condiments yourself, an excellent alternative is to look for homemade varieties at the farmer's market and simply remove the labels.
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You can visit www.spiceyrooster.com for more helpful information about Let Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce Spice Up Your Life.
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