• Question: What makes spicy food so spicy

    Asked by Einstein123jnr to Áine, Ciarán, Eoin, Lydia, Victoria on 7 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Ciarán O'Brien

      Ciarán O'Brien answered on 7 Nov 2014:

      The spices in spicy foods contain chemicals that do burn a little bit. Capsaicin is what makes chilli peppers taste hot, it’s an irritant to most animals. Some of the spiciest peppers come with warnings to avoid getting any in your eyes, or you’ll get some serious chemical burns or blisters. Chemicals like capsaicin probably evolved in plants we call spicy to help deter animals from eating them, which works well for animals that don’t know how to make a delicious curry. It’s not much of a defence against humans, who like a bit of spice in their food.

    • Photo: Áine Broderick

      Áine Broderick answered on 10 Nov 2014:

      Also people have different levels of tolerance for capsaicin, I can only have small amounts of spicy food, where as friends of mine can lots of spicy food. Did you know people use diary products to reduce/neutralise the effects of spicy foods.

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