Is pure capiscum the hottest flavoured substance known?
What about the essencial oils of black-pepper or ginger for istance? Also do things that actually sting have the same hot-taste effect, ie would stinging nettles taste ‘unbearably’ hot?
Cheers, Keithy
As far as I know it’s the only “hot” flavored subtance known. If there’s another food that tricks us into thinking the temperature in our mouths has risen significantly I’d like to know about it.
Here’s a staff report on capsaicin.
I understand the linking between Capsaicin and pain. But it is certainly not just any-old pain (tooth ache doesn’t ‘taste’ hot, does it). Also black pepper and ginger (cinnamon as well and others) can ‘taste’ hot but don’t as far as I know contain Capsaicin.
Are there a particular set of pain receptors, that when they are stimulated give the hot-taste sensation?
If they do exist, can they be stimulated (say electronically) to give the same effect?
Cheers, Keithy