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Random mutterings
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Recent Chicken Scratchings
Do you know the feeling you get when, after eating a bunch of really spicy foods, the outer fringes of your lips begin to burn?
Do you think there is any actual “heat” or is that just the standard confusion of “spicy hot” with “temperature hot”?
If you were to pour tomato sauce on ice in one cup and Tabasco on ice in another, would the Tabasco melt the ice more quickly?
Posted 1 Mar 2011
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7 Responses to “Heat on Ice”
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there are thermometers that can measure the heat of foods. perhaps the heat increases as it meets or mixes with other foods.
Perhaps this wikipedia entry about Scoville’s scale will be found to be pertinent to this discussion:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale
However, it does not discuss why spiciness is interpreted as burning heat by the lips. For that, this wikipedia article is of use.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin
Lastly, sorry I am so bored at work and I hope you at least enjoy this “educational” post.
Ugh. Don’t eat Tabasco, unless it’s the chipotle version. Eat Cholula, Sriracha, or Louisiana hot sauce. Those are my holy trinity of hot sauces.
@ Ashley
I am with you. I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but to me Tabasco tastes almost metallic. Gross! I much prefer all three of the sauces you suggest.
That said, I am fine with the idea of using Tabasco for science experiments!
Capsaicin was a chemical that was originally used by plants to keep mammals from eating them (ironically). It doesn’t effect temperature directly, but changes the way nerve fibers react to temperature. Similar to the way aspartame makes you taste things sweeter.
Only slightly on the subject.. Check out these (terrorism-countering) badboys!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/23/india-chilli-bhut-jolokia-terrorism
How about something made with the world’s hottest pepper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzkASRiqywk.
Well, you’re in luck! There is a hot sauce (which Joef ordered from England) made out of this (Naga Viper) and Naga Jolokia. It’s, um…hot: http://piccinacucina.blogspot.com/2011/02/naga-viper-arrives.html. Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVgRJF3JaN4&feature=related.