Chilie for this time of year...

Chilies

I love the warmth of chilies in food, especially at this time of year. That tangy, zingy, piquancy gives such a pleasant burning sensation on your tounge.

It reminds me most of the famous Scots square sausage meat. If you ever go to Glasgow, go into a cafe and have a cup of tea and a square sausage sandwich - its one of the joys of the world.

The essential oil in chilies, capsaicin, does not dissolve in water - it is hydrophobic (a bit like cats..?!) You may have heard people say not to drink water when you are eating food with chillies in - there is a reason for this. Because the chilie oil does not dissolve in water, it is instead spread across the surface of the mouth, prolonging and spreading that burning in the mouth!

If you've over-indulged, and are struggling with the heat, eat something that is high in fats and oils, such as milk, bread or butter. The chilie oil will then mix freely with these other fats, and be removed from the mouth.

Cool, eh? (or was that a hot tip?)

(I can feel a chilie Haiku coming on..._

Did you know

Birds are generally not sensitive to chilies, and can quite happily munch through the hottest of chilie peppers as a snack.