the carolina reaper...

[Ken Gargett]

you can never overestimate humanity (and i say this as someone who once bet his mates he could drink an entire bottle of tabasco). but seriously???

think about this - "for some reason the man must have been particularly sensitive to capsaicin, the heat-producing ingredient in peppers". now, this cannot have come as a complete surprise to the bloke. you'd hardly enter a chilli-eating comp if you'd never eaten chillies before. and yet, he still entered it! 

and then, "many people eat them and experience nothing worse than the desire to cut out their own tongues.". so nothing too serious then???? nothing worse than that??

 

He ate the world’s hottest chilli pepper, then landed in hospital

By James Gorman

10 April 2018

If you eat a really hot chilli pepper, you expect pain. A lot of pain.

In addition to the feeling that you have just put a live coal in your mouth, you may weep, vomit and wonder where in your life you took a wrong turn.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

 

You don't expect a headache so intense and immediate that it sends you to the emergency room. But that's what happened to a 34-year-old man who turned up at a New York hospital with what clinicians call a thunderclap headache.

His problems began when he ate a whole Carolina Reaper — the hottest chilli pepper in the world, according to Guinness World Records — while participating in hot-pepper-eating competition.

He immediately started experiencing dry heaves — not unknown in the hot-pepper-eating world. But then a pain in his neck and head came on like ... a thunderclap.

 

It passed, but over the next few days he experienced more thunderclap headaches — that is the clinical term — so he sought medical attention.

Scans of his head and neck showed the kind of constriction in some arteries that can cause intense headaches, doctors reported in BMJ Case Reports. The scientific term for this temporary narrowing of arteries is reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome.

Dr Kulothungan Gunasekaran, one of the report's authors, now at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, said that for some reason the man must have been particularly sensitive to capsaicin, the heat-producing ingredient in peppers. The Carolina Reaper is a popular pepper, and for some reason the man must have been particularly sensitive to capsaicin, the heat-producing ingredient in peppers. The Carolina Reaper is a popular pepper, and many people eat them and experience nothing worse than the desire to cut out their own tongues.

"I was discussing the case with a nurse who had eaten three Carolina Reapers," Dr Gunasekaran said.

The Reaper has been measured at more than 2 million Scoville heat units, the accepted scale for how hot peppers are. Measurements vary, but a really hot habanero might come in at 500,000 Scoville units.

The patient was fine, with no lingering damage, but thunderclap headaches are not to be dismissed. For one thing, there is the pain, which seems to surpass even the normal effect of the peppers.

Dr Lawrence C. Newman, a neurologist and director of the headache division at NYU Langone Health, said: "On a 1 to 10 scale, it's off the charts." And it can indicate the kind of stroke that results from bleeding in the brain.

It happens instantaneously. If that kind of headache hits you, it makes sense to seek medical attention "whether you've bitten into a pepper or not," Dr Newman said.

The new study does suggest that capsaicin, being investigated for its role in alleviating pain and lowering blood pressure, can have unexpected effects on certain people.

Cayenne pepper pills and a capsaicin patch, sold in China and Turkey, have been blamed in medical reports for two non-fatal heart attacks in young men, the result of spasms in arteries.

But "we are not advising anything against the Carolina Reaper," Dr Gunasekaran said.

The Reaper was bred to reach record levels of heat. Reached by telephone at the PuckerButt Pepper Company in Fort Mill, South Carolina, the Reaper's creator, Ed Currie, offered mixed advice on pepper consumption.

On the one hand, he said, "people who eat whole Reapers are just being stupid". But "Smokin' Ed", as he calls himself, also gave the impression that was not such a bad thing. "We eat them all the time," he said, with no ill consequences beyond pain.

Mr Currie indulges in other competitions of suffering. For instance, he said, he had recently taken the Death Nut Challenge, which involves eating insanely hot peanuts. He has a partnership with a company that produces them.

"I knew beforehand I shouldn't do it," Mr Currie said. "I was in pain for two hours."

For the average person interested in spice, not suffering, he advised using small amounts of any really hot pepper in food preparation, as they were intended.

So if you happen to go beyond your limits — having, say, entered a hot-pepper-eating competition?

"Citric acid seems to work the best to alleviate the pain," he said. "Don't chug milk because you'll just throw it up."

New York Times

[CrankYanker]

Thunderclap was used in great context in this article. Imagine a Carolina reaper pepper cigar. You want pepper...here you go lol

[Grateful13]

Haha can confirm, the reaper is no joke. 

[THEMISCHMAN]

Thunderclap was used in great context in this article. Imagine a Carolina reaper pepper cigar. You want pepper...here you go lol

Ask and you shall receive.

[herf78]

yeah I had some last year, though I enjoy flavorful heat, this was a bit much 

[suggs]

On 4/14/2018 at 11:22 AM, Grateful13 said:

Haha can confirm, the reaper is no joke. 

Agreed. I legitimately thought I might die when I ate one I grew last year.

[El Presidente]

This raises an interesting question. Why?

 

I love Chillies and will use 5-6 varieties for all sorts of different cooking.  Thai, Nagpur, Habanero, Cayenne, Naga etc. They all add so much to the right dish. However you get to a point where the story becomes the chilli and not the dish. I have never worked out what the attraction is. 

[Ken Gargett]

21 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

This raises an interesting question. Why?

 

I love Chillies and will use 5-6 varieties for all sorts of different cooking.  Thai, Nagpur, Habanero, Cayenne, Naga etc. They all add so much to the right dish. However you get to a point where the story becomes the chilli and not the dish. I have never worked out what the attraction is. 

because humans are fascinated by odd things.

if say cumin had various differences, there would be some interest but nothing like there is with chillies. but because chillies have this fiery aspect and can go to this sort of level, it gets the extra interest. this is nothing to do with adding to the dish. that would be a discussion on different beers or rums. this is the equivalent of how much can you drink. 

[El Presidente]

47 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

because humans are fascinated by odd things.

if say cumin had various differences, there would be some interest but nothing like there is with chillies. but because chillies have this fiery aspect and can go to this sort of level, it gets the extra interest. this is nothing to do with adding to the dish. that would be a discussion on different beers or rums. this is the equivalent of how much can you drink. 

I see. Akin to who can pee the highest in the mens urinal. 

[Ken Gargett]

Just now, El Presidente said:

I see. Akin to who can pee the highest in the mens urinal. 

if you say so. 

[Philski]

"...a bit orange-ish..."

 

[ayepatz]

My best man arranged a Naga Chilli Chicken Wing Challenge on my Stag Night.

Very simple rules.

1) Put on the gloves.

2) Eat six chicken wings. No time limit.

3) No drinks during the challenge.

I managed two wings. He made it to two and a half. Nobody else got past one.

My idiot cousin eschewed the gloves in drunken, tough-guy mode. Then touched his eye.

I still wince when I think of the, er, aftermath. ?

[Ken Gargett]

i know this has been posted before but perhaps worth doing so again...

no idea where it originally came from. 

 

Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cooking contest. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (native Texans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted." Here are the scorecards from the advent:

(Frank Judge #3)

Chili # 1 Eddie's Maniac Monster Chili...
Judge # 1 --! A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.

Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.

Judge # 3 -- (Frank) What the hell is this stuff?! You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put out the flames. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy!


Chili # 2 Austin's Afterburner Chili...

Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.

Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor; needs more peppers to be taken seriously.

Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.


Chili # 3 Ronny's Famous Burn Down the Barn Chili...

Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. Needs more beans.

Judge # 2 -- A beanless chili, a bit salty, good use of peppers.

Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now.
Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting pie-eyed from all of the beer...

Chili # 4 Dave's Black Magic...

Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.

Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish, or other mild foods; not much of a chili.

Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the barmaid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-lb. woman is starting to look HOT...just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?

Chili # 5 Lisa's Legal Lip Remover...

Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.

Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne ! peppers make a strong statement.

Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead, and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really pisses me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks.


Chili # 6 Pam's Very Vegetarian Variety...

Judge # 1 -- Thin, yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.

Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, a! nd garlic. Superb.

Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulphuric flames. I pooped on myself when I farted and I'm worried it will eat through the chair! No one seems inclined to stand behind me anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.

Chili # 7 Carla's Screaming Sensation Chili...

Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.

Judge # 2 -- Ho-hum; tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress, as he is cursing uncontrollably.

Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me.
I've decided to stop breathing; it's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.

Chili # 8 Karen's Toenail Curling Chili...

Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold, but spicy enough to declare its existence.

Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced ! chili. Neither mild, nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge # 3 farted, passed out, fell over, and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself.
Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili?"

Judge # 3 -- Oh God.........