[psjones]

I have yet to hear of anyone dying from eating habaneros, oh, they're hot alright, but they sure add a zing to food.

[ThanhPhero]

It has happened.It can paralyze the muscles in the throat and close off the trachea. People have, indeed died from that. I always ate the hottest peppers like grapes- didn't much feel the signature burn at all. Then one time in a diner I couldnt' breathe and couldnt tell anyone about it. After a minute or so I got my breath back.It took three such incidents over a couple of years before I cranked back on my intake. I don't eat the really hot ones anymore and even go easy on the tabasco.

[punster]

For some real zing: Try eating habanero straight.

[Paridel]

I have yet to hear of anyone dying from eating habaneros

True, I've never died from eating hot food... but every once and a while I'll eat something and wish that I would. ;-)

A good example is particularly spicy versions of the New Mexican favorite carne ada vada... something that has kept my lying awake in bed cursing my idiotic earlier self on more than one occasion.

-paridel

[lemura]

We grow both Habs and Serranos in our garden during the summer (along with Anaheims, Bells, etc). I don't even use the Habs - we dry the Serranos and use them carefully during the winter to spice up certain meals.