Today's Google Doodle - Scoville scale

[zyxt9]

As someone who has always enjoyed spicy in the jalapeno to the lower end of the habanero range, I was happy to see the Google doodle about the Scoville scale and read about it.

Then when I saw the current scale: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale
I was wondering who has lost all sensation in their mouth and replaced their guts with plastic tubing in order to try the Carolina Reaper pepper. Apparently that person's name is Jason McNabb who won a contest by eating 3 of these peppers in 10.95 seconds.

There's also several internet vids about people eating them, some are pretty entertaining.

Anyone ever try it?

Not gonna lie, I'm wondering if Gulo is or knows the guy who created it.

 

[Michchamp]

kinda reminds me of a video i saw years ago. some loudmouth sportscaster was interviewing college kids from some agricultural school who had grown a really, really hot type of pepper.

I think it might've been Cowherd(?). Anyway, the professor warned him and offereded him water and a glass of milk, but he waved him off in a really cocky manner then just grabbed a couple peppers and stuffed them in his mouth. in about 10 seconds he was reduced to an eye-watering, choking mess, and started bitching at everyone on the set (in between coughs and gags). The cameraman kept yelling "he warned you! i have it on video"

 

[Gulo Blue]

Not gonna lie, I'm wondering if Gulo is or knows the guy who created it.

Nope. Heard of it, but I don't know any more about it than you do. I like spicy food relative to Michiganders, but my taste buds have recovered from the days were I was eating peppers every day. I still sometimes run into food that my parent will talk about how spicy it was and I won't have noticed. Every now and then, I do like a meal that will just make my eyes water and I have to blow my nose once, but I'm not a super hot pepper daredevil. There's a place I go sometimes where you can specify the spice level. They say it's a ten point scale, and I usually go 7 or 8 out of ten. But I've overheard Asian-looking people ask for 20.

Peppers are really inconsistent though. Some jalapenos are too much for me to enjoy, some are completely mild. I use dried cayenne all the time, but once I ate one and regretted it for about half an hour.

 

[zyxt9]

that's pretty much where i have been lately too. my wife is not a hot spicy fan but likes a low level that adds flavor, so most of what i eat anymore is lower in heat than when i was younger.

with the expected snow storm, i picked up ingredients for a chili...and found the google doodle to be of rather ironic timing. lol

 

[elrod817]

I've had both the bhut jolokia and Naga viper. Haven't had anything hotter yet, but I'm always willing to try!

 

[newton83]

I don't do spicy peppers but I love wasabi. I always have to ask for more when I go out for sushi.

 

[Thumb]

I don't do spicy peppers but I love wasabi. I always have to ask for more when I go out for sushi.

Isn't that considered an insult to the chef?

 

[Gulo Blue]

I don't do spicy peppers but I love wasabi. I always have to ask for more when I go out for sushi.

We've got a place in town that serves actual pickled wasabi. Until this place came along, I had no idea that the green paste you get everywhere is actually dyed, flavored horseradish. Even the one place in town that has it serves the horseradish substitute unless you specifically order the real deal (which is an extra $4.)

 

[Gulo Blue]

Apparently, real wasabi loses flavor 15 minutes after grating; that might be why the substitute is so common. The stuff at this place isn't grated. It's diced fine, but not grated, and I think it's a bit pickled.

 

[Michchamp]

We've got a place in town that serves actual pickled wasabi. Until this place came along, I had no idea that the green paste you get everywhere is actually dyed, flavored horseradish. Even the one place in town that has it serves the horseradish substitute unless you specifically order the real deal (which is an extra $4.)

how does real wasabi taste?

i knew horseradish/wasabi were the same plant family (watercress?). notably they are hot "upward" affecting the nasal passages. they don't burn your throat/stomach. peppers are the opposite. they burn going down. and coming out.

 

[Gulo Blue]

how does real wasabi taste?

Like horserasdish, with some basil or parsley or cilantro or something on that order. This stuff doesn't bite as sharply as the regular stuff, but that could be because it's chopped and not grated.