What Makes Us Love the Pain of Hot Peppers?

WSJ ^ | 28 Aug 2021 | Matt Siegel

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”Bland boring food was the biggest drive behind ancient global exploration.”

They did call them the spice islands!

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Then again, maybe the explanation is simpler.

Yeah, it is. Spicy-hot tastes good. Long before there were any sociologists around to ponder such mysteries, Pliny the Elder was complaining that the Roman empire sent India 50 million sesterces every year for black pepper.

[SES1066]

If Medieval Europe could have grown their own peppers & chilis, would that great effort to reach the 'Spice Islands' (Indonesia) have taken place? Remember, a peppercorn was more than gold, and a reasonable cargo was a lifetime of wealth.

If the sci-fi fantasy of backwards time travel were ever to send a traveler back to before 1500AD, they'd be smart to skip heavy gold in favor of the average household's spice cabinet. We of the modern age have NO IDEA of how bland food back then was. Yes, they had salt, but it was dirty and EXPENSIVE! Rulers taxed salt, paid in salt (salary) and even then food was boring!

BUT sometimes the accouterments highlight a different side. This is the salt cellar (holder) [1543] of French Monarch Francis I [1494-1547], created by Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini [1500-71]! Show me a pepper grinder that is its equal

[Bob434]

Special of the day:

Namibian warthog rectum stew. $45.95

Ostrich rectum appetizers only $24.95 today only

[DUMBGRUNT]

—” you get used to the hot over time.”

I worked with an Indian guy, he said that each time he went home, he complained that his mother’s cooking had become too hot!

He also developed a liking for cheeseburgers!
Another told him to be very careful about going home with cheeseburgers on his breath, could be BIG TROUBLE.

[rlmorel]

Bfl

[Openurmind]

Overland too, even long before Marco Polo. :)

Spices have been worth their weight in gold at certain times throughout history.

[Openurmind]

Yep... Good post. :)

[frank ballenger]

I just mean spicy flavorings in nearly all sausages and of course horseradish , and some of those pickled herring and seasoned dishes. None of which I would eat.

Here is a primer: Wide World of Jewish Spices https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/food/articles/the-wide-world-of-jewish-spices

My favorite spicy item is Chinese Garlic Chicken.

Also like Mexican Style Street Bean dishes of various types.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”Yeah, the Queen is not a good cook.”

A nice shot, and a good thing she does not do dentistry on the side!!!

That said I have come to really appreciate HRM, a very positive influence on the English people.

[Larry Lucido]

[dblshot]

That’s why you have ice cream for desert. In the morning when it’s burning you a new hole you can yell “come on ice cream”

[SgtHooper]

Izat rectum like eating calamari?

[lee martell]

I like a lot of very hot peppers, but my stomach may have it’s own opinion on what ‘food’ means. Crushed pepper flakes and a few splots of
Sriracha Chili Sauce are what I usually stick to.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—” the time I ate a habanero pepper thinking it was one of those!”

We have some Italian relatives, by marriage, my mother was visiting them and had some peppers and eggs... GOOD EATING!

My mom attempting to make her own but purchased the WRONG peppers.
My brother said they were too hot to eat, my father thought they were a tad spicy and ate them all.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”salsa and guacamole”

I enjoy spicy salsa, cannot even consider spicy guac??

But I would try it.

[Billthedrill]

Oh yuss...juicy rubbery goodness served with lemon curry. Numnumnum!

[Does so]

My most-Commie neighbor loves “hot”.
Is there a lesson there?

[ameribbean expat]

“Beginning in Iraq in 1990, the U.S. military started issuing miniature glass bottles of Tabasco sauce with meals”

Because the brass finally wised up to the fact we were all carrying a full size bottle in our LBE on the chance we got the Godforsaken tuna and noodles MRE.

[JubJub]

Grown particular?