Tell me how the world defines Indian food?
One word – Spicy!
Spice is so important to us that we have added it in every Indian food item from savory dishes to the beverages like Chai.
In Meghalaya, the word spicy has utterly new meaning and depth – as this state is home to the hottest Bhut Jolokia chilli. The Chilli That Has Entered the Guinness Book of World Record!
Bhut Jolokia chilli is known as Sohmynken Beb in Khasi language. It is also called Raja mircha, King Chilli, or Ghost Pepper. It truly is worthy of all of its names. This chilli had the honor of being the hottest chilli in the world from the year 2007 to 2010. The heat of chillis is measured in the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU). But Jolokia chillies heat rating of 1,041,427 SHU, a bhut jolokia record on its own.
Ever Thought what Makes This Chilli So hot?
It is Capsaicin (Molecular formula- C18H27NO3) the active ingredient in Chillies. Capsaicin produces the sensation of burning in any tissue that comes into contact. Touching the Bhut Jolokia chilli can also cause irritation to your skin and smelling it can be mildly irritating for your nose and lungs.
It is present in the white pith of inner wall which holds the seeds and it is also present in lesser quantities in the fleshy parts of a chilli. Many people remove this part to cool down the heat of the chilli. You need to handle the Bhut Jolokia chilli very carefully as it has very high level of Capsaicin.
When we eat chilli, capsaicin hits the nerve endings on the tongue and sends a signal to the brain. So, spiciness is a sensation of a pain produced by chemical reaction between capsaicin and sensory nerves on the tongue. Spiciness is Not a Flavour of Bhut Jolokia. Bhut Jolokia has its own flavour. It is sweet and fruity when you first eat it. Capsaicin tricks our brain in thinking that our body temperature is getting hot.
Each breath feels as if you are breathing out fire like a dragon. The spice is not actually burning you but the brain gets that signal and it reacts accordingly. As a result, body tries to cool down by sweating and by breathing fast. For the same reason body forms saliva, mucus and tears.
This is how spicy food can turn us into a crying mess trying to reach for water.
However, drinking water to get rid of spicy sensation is like trying to wash grease with water – Ineffective!
Capsaicin only dissolves in fats, oils, and alcohol. To get rid of burning sensation, we need to eat or drink dairy products like a cold cup of milk or a spoon of ice cream or fatty foods like peanut butter and avocados.
The fire in mouth only lasts for few minutes till the bond between Capsaicin and sensory nerves starts to break. Eating too much of chilli can be harmful to your throat and stomach so we should eat the spicy food carefully. The tolerance for Capsaicin can be improved with practice.
I love eating this chilli for its sweet, fruity and unique flavor. I like to bite on a tiny piece of this chilli during my meals, and the flavor explosions I experience in my mouth with each bite are just too difficult to explain.
So when the Zizira team was looking for honey infusion ideas, Bhut Jolokia was the first one that got 100% votes from everyone.
Zizira came up with the Spicy Twist Honey, but we love calling it the "Fireball Honey," which is raw honey infused with the bhut jolokia chilli. Everything about Fireball honey is not just fun but healthy too. This honey can be used in multiple ways and different food options.
You can drizzle it over our snacky items such as chips, nachos, fries, or even with the namkeens such as Samosa, Dhokla, or Papadi chaat. The fun doesn't end here- Fireball honey can give a fun twist to your simple juices and can add more glamour to your kitty party mocktails. One of our customers tried it on Avacado slices and could not stop talking about how amazing it was. Apart from these ideas, you can also get more creative about how you want to use this honey in your snacks and beverages.
What About the Health Benefits?
Looking at the product from a different perspective of health, you will find that honey has all the benefits of raw honey, such as antioxidants, enzymes, and energy. Bhut Jolokia has a high level of Capsaicin, which is known to help our metabolism, and it also helps in losing weight. To summarize, this one honey infusion can be the one thing that goes well with everything you have for snack-time or for a tea-party with your guests.
Here Are a Few Recipes You Can Try at Home
Use the fireball honey as a spread on your bread or toasts.
Enjoy the fireball honey as a dip for your favorite snacks such as Dhokla, Samosa, Kachori etc.
Mix the Fireball honey in your fruit juices to give them a spicy twist.
Use the Fireball honey as a dip for your favorite Netflix binge snacks such as chips, nachos
So, what are you waiting for?
Get your hands on this sweet and spicy treat and be the popular host known for creative snacks and drinks. ??
Don’t forget to share your ideas with us – How would you like to use this honey?