# Chemistry of really hot foods

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemistry-of-really-hot-foods/263091>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 4, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemistry-of-really-hot-foods/263091 "2004-09-04T06:18:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemistry-of-really-hot-foods/263091/1 "2004-09-04T06:18:11Z")

</div>

Hot as in picante, not calor. Because I’m a layperson, I’ll probably use “hot” when I mean “spicy,” but since I won’t use it to mean “hot” (temperature) I don’t think this will be a problem.

In a none-too-far-gone thread (that I nonetheless can’t find), someone mentioned that they ordered food as hot as it could be made and revelled in the transcendent experiences that it caused.

A couple of questions:

What exactly is the chemistry behind these foods being “hot?” Will I damage my tongue/mouth should I choose something too hot? I know Cecil had a column re: chemical burns from drinking a bottle of tobasco sauce.\* I’m certainly familiar with the raw-tongue feeling from hot foods, but could this damage be permanent? Is this burning/damaging factor related to the amount or intensity of the spices?

I’m assuming that the poster was using hyperbole, but are really freakin’ hot foods a potential ticket to nirvana (if only for a short time)? If so, how would I build my way up to tremendous hotness?

Given that I can’t take a dollop of wasabi, I probably should just give up on this.

- I distinctly recall this being in MORE OF THE STRAIGHT DOPE, but can’t find it in that, any of the other books or on the archives.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemistry-of-really-hot-foods/263091/2 "2004-09-04T06:23:12Z")

</div>

Aha. It would help if I could spell it correctly.

I’ve got the chemical reaction questions answered.

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=49334&highlight=tabasco+cecil](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=49334&highlight=tabasco+cecil)