# "Hot" spices other than New World chili peppers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-spices-other-than-new-world-chili-peppers/296707>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 29, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-spices-other-than-new-world-chili-peppers/296707 "2005-03-29T01:24:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-spices-other-than-new-world-chili-peppers/296707/61 "2005-04-01T01:16:26Z")

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> [@Scarface Z](#):
>
> Always where gloves when dealing with the hot stuff, and never, never rub your eyes.

This is a lesson I never seem to learn. I have ruined two pairs of contacts this way. (It’s nigh impossible to get them clean once the capsaicin has hit them. And imagine the difficulty of trying to remove a burning contact when your eyes are spasming shut from the chemical irritant.) And yes, many times with the bathroom thing. :eek: While my skin doesn’t seem to mind excessive levels of capsaicin, be forewarned if you wear contacts. One time, after peeling and deveining Thai birds eye chiles, I washed my hands _three times_ with hot water and soap. It _still_ didn’t get all the oils out and I still burned my eyes out removing my contacts.  
I just wear glasses now when I know I’ll be handling chiles. (I can’t be bothered with gloves.)

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**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-spices-other-than-new-world-chili-peppers/296707/62 "2005-04-02T07:11:15Z")

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Wow. Some of you people seem to be serious food scientists. You ought to join [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Good\_Eats/](http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Good_Eats/).

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