Spiciest Foods in the World

We all know that Indian cuisine is all about using the various spices that add flavour to the dishes. Compared to the rest of the world, we can reasonably agree that Indians have a higher tolerance to spices. But, there are some dishes that take the spice level to its absolute extreme.  

Hot and spicy has been debated for long; it has left people in splits. Some love them, and others hate them. From the subtle and tame jalapenos to the fiery habanero and bhut jholokia, here are some of the spiciest foods in the world that you must try (or probably not). 

Kimchi Jjigae, Korea 

If you love Korean cuisine or like to indulge in culinary experiments, you may have had kimchi before, a staple in all Korean restaurants. But, you may not have tasted this spicy version of the humble Kimchi.  

There are no secret ingredients here that makes this dish one of the spiciest in the world. The same ingredients go into making this dish, green onions, tofu, garlic, mushrooms and a generous amount of red chillies. Instead, it is the cooking method that makes the difference.  

Kimchi Jjigae is simmered on a slow heat in a chilli-infused stew until the broth reaches a specific level of spiciness. To top it off, the dish is served piping hot. Make sure you keep a fire extinguisher handy as you taste it because you sure will feel the fire.  

Suicide Chicken Wings, America 

If the name itself is scaring you away, it is better to back off now before you taste it. We all like chicken wings, don’t we? But spicy or rather spiciest chicken wings is probably best left for the food connoisseurs with superhuman abilities. 

The evergreen classic American appetizer is called suicide wings for nothing. It is made from a marinade of red-hot chilli sauce, chopped chillies, pepper, and red chilli flakes. Now you know why it is a suicide mission? The mix of Mexican, Korean and Chinese peppers makes the dish too hot to handle for many. 

Papa a la Huancaina, Peru 

The South Americans are known to handle a bit of spice and it is no surprise that a dish from Peru features on the most spicy food in the world list. What may appear to be a deceptively simple salad made with olives and boiled eggs mixed in a Huancaina thick sauce, is laden with Amarillo chilli peppers.  

Loved by the locals, if you are going to try this, here is a word of caution for all - keep your doctor on the speed dial or an ambulance on standby to get immediate medical attention.  

Phaal Curry, India 

The chefs at the restaurants that serve Phaal curry wear gas masks while making the dish. If that is any hint of how hot and spicy the dish is. The hottest curry in the world, it is an Indian curry that originated in the UK restaurants. 

It is so spicy that people who dare to try this are required to sign an undertaking, which states they are solely responsible for the after effects of eating the dish and they will not sue the restaurant. The tomato-based curry contains chicken and is loaded with 10 different types of peppers, including the notorious bhut jolokia, one of the hottest chillies in the world. 

Neua Pad Prik, Thailand 

Thai food is one of the most popular foods in the world. People from all over the world visit Thailand to indulge in its various delicacies. Like all Asian cuisine, Thai food is known to use a good amount of spices, but Neua Pad Prik takes it a few notches up.  

A common Thai dish, it is also known as Thai pepper steak and it is simple to make. It is made with sliced beef pieces with lots of seasonings including, basil, garlic, shallots and the bird’s eye chilli. To give you a sense of its spiciness, it ranks between 100,000 – 225,000 Scoville heat units, or as the experts put it, it is face-meltingly hot.  

Sichuan hot pot, China 

Typically Chinese food from the Sichuan region is considered to be one of the spiciest foods in the world and the hot pot is just a fine example of it. This delicious broth, made with onions, garlic, mushrooms, Sichuan peppers, and any other ingredient as you please (be it duck, pork, beef or chicken meat), is usually a hot favourite among the locals during the winters.  

If the hot temperature of the soup doesn’t give you the kick, the spiciness of it will definitely make you sweat and shed a few tears. The spicy warmth of the soup may help you cope with the cold air but your tongue will feel the fire.  

Jerk Chicken, Jamaica 

The finest Jamaican ingredients, including cinnamon, cloves, spring onions, chicken, thyme, garlic, nutmeg goes into the making of this Jamaican delicacy. But, what makes this one of the hottest foods in the world is the use of scotch bonnet peppers. To lower the heat level, it is generally served with a side of rice.  

Now that you know about the spiciest foods in the world, go ahead and bring out your daredevil spirit and try one of these foods and tell us about your experience. We would love to hear your spicy story!