Atomic Thai Chili? Try Blair’s Reserve:
An insurance salesman in Bangkok once told me that most Thai health insurances exclude kidney diseases – as kidney ailments are a common disease among Thai people due to the spicy, salty food. Thai food takes pride in its hotness, said to be not only healthy, but good for your stamina and everything.
But even the most atomic of Thailand’s atomic chilis called phrik khii nuu – literally “mouse shit chili” – is as mild as a glass of milk compared to “Blair’s 16 Million Reserve” – a beautifully crafted little bottle containing the world’s spiciest spice: pure capsaicin crystals, easily taking out the most chili-hardened Thai.
Pure capsaicin contains 16 million Scoville heat units, the industry’s standard for measuring a pepper’s punch- while Tobasco has some 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville and the hottest fresh Thai chili reaches 350,000 Scoville. The world’s hottest chili is some paltry 855,000 Scoville units. Pure fire, but if you like it reeeally hot:
Get a flask of the death sauce. Adds zest to anything. The tiny 1ml vial inside contains pure capsicum crystals, hottest chili powder known to man. Surprise your Thai friends! They’ll love you hothead.
And run. Only 999 bottles sold. Maybe they got one left here. But, warns the producer, avoid eye and skin contact when cooking. Wear eye protection and gloves.
And use tweezers. You don’t want to end up with two crystals in that sauce.
Blair’s 16 Million compares to tabasco the way a bottle rocket compares to Nagasaki, the New York Post wrote.
And sure thing we’d like to publish the story of your first Blair’s 16 Million Reserve dish! Just include pictures.
Your implication that hot food can cause kidney diseases has no scientific grounds.
The FDA in the United States considers capsaicin to be safe.
Only side effects known are:
1. An allergic reaction to capsaicin is possible.
2. Do not take capsaicin if you have high blood pressure or are already being treated for high blood pressure.
3. Extremely high intake of capsaicin may cause ulcers, but it’s rare for anyone to consume enough for this to be a problem.
Please provide any reference to the association between kidney condition and the intake of spicy food.
PS: Phrik khii nuu is translated in English as bird’s eye chilies and not “mouse shit chili.”
ngieen: Phrik khii nuu refers to the bird’s eye chilies, you’re right, but literally translated the Thai means what I said. A bird is a nok, a mouse/rat a nuu.
Regarding mentioned effect on kidneys: I’m just quoting what the insurance salesman told me. And was referring to spicy AND salty foods.
Fact is especially the fermented Thai fish sauce nam pla is no medicine for your kidney. The Bangkok Post had a warner on this.
Regarding CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) in Thailand you find ample literature on the net, such as High prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Thailand.
BangkokDan
There is no argument about the higher prevalence of chronic renal condition in Thai population. However your post is misleading by making statements that this is because of consumption of spicy food and or using fish sauce.
If fish sauce is the cause, than the same high percentage should be more or less existent in all of Southeast Asia, from Vietnam to Burma, and if the cause is capsaicin than the renal condition should be high in many countries around the world.
Japan has the highest percentage of gastric cancer and that has been proven to be associate with the consumption of raw fish. I am still lacking a solid evidence that either fish sauce or spicy food are cause for chronic renal conditions. “Scientific Bangkok Post” I am afraid is not a solid reference.
I enjoy your blog, and read it through RSS, I think that in this post, for the sake of fun you blamed the Thai cuisine in unhealthy consequences – which is neither deserved nor proven.
This article blames fermented fish for the highest incident in the world of a certain bile cancer in Isaan:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06/21/national/national_30105668.php
Wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a kidney relation …
This is for real.
I bought (via internet) a bottle of “357 Mad Dog Sauce” … “6 million Scoville” they wrote on the label …
My plan was simple: try it with a very good friend of mine, a Thai female. She is able to “take” very spicy food …
I took a tiny little bit of this sauce on one tine of my fork … then put it on my tongue … While the heat was coming, my friend took a lot more … very quickly … I wanted to tell her “Waaaaaaaait! Try it fiiiiiiirst!” Couldn’t stop her.
Too late.
Bloody too late.
She cried.
She became red. Then white. Then red again.
She cried more.
She had stomach pain. Instantanously.
She stopped speaking.
She just went on the bed, to have some rest.
It was too much. She was overwhelmed. KO. KO.
Amazing!
I thought: the lesson is clear … The magic of Western science is able to explode Thai boundaries …
But the little devil, a few hours later, has had the last word: “It’s spicy … sure … but it’s not as good as Thai chili.”
Of course it’s not. How could it be?
Anyway, those sauces (they seem popular in the U.S.) are true weapons of mass destruction. Beware.