Hot and fiery
Chilli heat that builds and lingers: capsaicin in its many strengths.
Hot spices bring burning heat, mostly from chillies, and also from the sharper bite of pepper and some roots. The heat is a sensation of pain-like warmth, and many people learn to enjoy it.
Where the heat comes from
Chillies contain capsaicin, which triggers the same nerve receptors that sense hot temperatures. Black pepper contains piperine, which has a different, sharper bite. Heat is measured on the Scoville scale, from mild peppers near zero to the hottest cultivars at over a million units.
How cooks use it
Heat is built in layers. Fresh chilli gives a bright burn, dried chilli a deeper warmth, and smoked chilli a lingering one. Fat, sugar, dairy and starch soften the heat on the tongue, which is why yoghurt and rice sit beside hot curries.
Around the world
Heat is strong in Mexican, Thai, Sichuan, Andhra, Ethiopian and West African food, and gentler in northern European cooking. Tolerance varies by person and grows with exposure, so start small.
Hot and fiery on EveryMasala
The spices written up so far, best known first.
🇵🇪 Peru and 5 moreChili pepperchīlli
The pungent berry of the Capsicum plant, used to add heat to dishes worldwide.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස්
A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart
🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreMustard
A pungent paste made from ground mustard seeds mixed with liquid and spices.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreZhugسحوق
A Yemeni hot sauce of crushed chilies, garlic, and corianderHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇳🇬 Nigeria and 1 moreYaji
A West African spice blend for grilled meats and rice, popular among the Hausa people.Blend · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇨🇳 ChinaYongfeng chili sauce永丰辣酱
A fermented paste of peppers and grains from Hunan, ChinaPaste · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇲🇽 MexicoSalsa macha
A Mexican condiment of dried chilies and oil, crushed to a coarse texture.Paste · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇨🇱 ChileMerkénmezkeñ
A traditional Mapuche smoked chili condiment from Chile, often mixed with coriander.Blend · Smoky · Hot and fiery
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreRock samphire
A coastal succulent with peppery leaves and carrot-scented roots, used fresh or pickled.Leaf · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreShishito pepper獅子唐辛子
A slender East Asian chili that is mostly mild with occasional heat burstsChilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 IndiaKala masala
A dark roasted spice blend from Maharashtra used for everyday home cooking.Blend · Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 IndiaChammanthi podi
A dry coconut and spice condiment from Kerala that preserves fresh chutney for months.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇪🇬 EgyptShattaشطة
A fermented Levantine paste of fresh chillies, garlic, and saltHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇭🇹 HaitiEpis
A blended flavor base of peppers, garlic, and herbs essential to Haitian cookingHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇧🇷 Brazil and 5 moreMalagueta peppermalagueta
A small, fiery chili from Capsicum frutescens used across Portuguese-speaking regions.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇳🇵 Nepal and 2 moreDalle Khursaniडल्ले खुर्सानी
A round, fiery chilli from the Eastern Himalayas, known for its intense heat and unique shape.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreChipotle
Smoke-dried ripe jalapeño peppers used in Mexican and Tex-Mex cookingChilli · Hot and fiery · Smoky
🇱🇾 Libya and 1 morePilpelchumaפלפלצ'ומה
A spicy garlic paste made from steamed peppers and olive oil, rooted in Libyan Jewish tradition.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇰🇭 CambodiaKroeungគ្រឿង
The pounded herb paste that gives Khmer dishes their base flavourPaste · Herbal and green · Hot and fiery
🇯🇵 JapanKarashiからし
A potent Japanese mustard made from brown mustard seeds, served as a sharp condiment.Seed · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇯🇵 JapanYuzu koshō柚子胡椒
A fermented Japanese paste of chili peppers and yuzu citrus peel.Paste · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright
🇺🇸 United StatesHabanaga pepper
An exceptionally hot Capsicum chinense cultivar created in New Mexico.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 morePaprika
A red powder made from dried Capsicum annuum peppers, used to colour and flavour dishes across Europe and the Middle EasSeed · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreJalapeño
A medium-sized Capsicum annuum cultivar from Mexico known for its green pods and moderate heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreCurry powder
A Western adaptation of Indian spice blends for cooking sauces and stews.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreGhost pepperbhut jolokia
A superhot chili from Northeast India with over one million Scoville units of heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇺🇸 United StatesCarolina Reaper
A gnarled red cultivar of Capsicum chinense bred in South Carolina for extreme heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreHabanero
A very hot chili cultivar with a floral aroma, native to the Amazon and grown in Mexico.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Floral and perfumed
🇪🇹 Ethiopia and 1 moreBerbereበርበሬ (bärbäre)
A complex Ethiopian spice blend built on chili peppers, coriander, and ginger.Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇵🇹 Portugal and 5 morePiri piri
A very hot African cultivar of Capsicum frutescens used for spicy sauces and marinadesChilli · Hot and fiery
🇲🇽 Mexico and 3 moreBird's eye chiliพริกขี้หนู
A small, intensely hot cultivar of Capsicum annuum native to Mexico and widely grown in Southeast Asia.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇯🇵 JapanShichimi七味唐辛子
A Japanese seven-ingredient spice blend for finishing soups and noodlesBlend · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright
🇮🇳 IndiaChaat masala
A tangy Indian spice blend for savory snacks and fruit saladsBlend · Sour and tart · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreMustard seed
Tiny seeds from Brassica plants that become a sharp condiment or cooking oil.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇹🇭 Thailand and 3 moreThai basilโหระพา
A Southeast Asian herb with purple stems and anise notes, used in curries and soups.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Hot and fiery
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreLong pepper
The dried fruit spike of a climbing vine native to Java, once the world's standard heat.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChili oil辣椒油
A red condiment of infused vegetable oil and hot peppers used across Asia and Europe.Hot and fiery · Smoky
🇪🇹 EthiopiaMitmitaሚጥሚጣ
A fiery Ethiopian spice blend of bird's eye chilies, cardamom, and cloves.Blend · Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇸🇾 Syria and 1 moreAleppo pepperفلفل حلبي
A moderately spicy, fruity flake from Syria and Turkey, named for the city of Aleppo.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇨🇳 ChinaMala麻辣
A fiery, tongue-numbing Chinese seasoning of Sichuan pepper and chilliesPaste · Hot and fiery · Numbing and tingling
🇫🇷 France and 1 moreEspelette pepperpiment d'Espelette
A mild Basque chili with sweet, fruity notes and protected origin status.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery
🇮🇳 IndiaTandoori masala
A spice blend for clay-oven cooking in the Indian subcontinentBlend · Hot and fiery
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 morePoblano
A mild Mexican chili pepper that becomes the dried ancho when mature.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreRed Savina
A selectively bred cultivar of Capsicum chinense known for its intense heat and wrinkled red fruit.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇹🇳 TunisiaTabilتابل
A Tunisian blend of coriander, caraway, garlic, and chili used to season stews.Sharp and pungent · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇨🇳 China and 2 moreCrushed red pepper
Dried and crushed chilli peppers, often with seeds, used as a spicy condiment.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇹 ItalyPeperoncino
A hot Italian chili pepper used in southern cuisine, dried and crushed for heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇬🇭 GhanaShitoshitor din
A dark, spicy sauce made from fried fish and peppers, central to Ghanaian cooking.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Rock samphire: User:Jymm, Public domain, source
- Shatta: 2kbfloppadisk, CC0, source
- Karashi: yoppy, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ghost pepper: Gannon anjo at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Dalle Khursani: Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chili pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Peperoncino: Ramac, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Yongfeng chili sauce: Elena0100, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Salsa macha: BurseraLinanoe, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Piri piri: Bovineone at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Jalapeño: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Berbere: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Habanero: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Epis: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mitmita: Caffe Vita, CC BY 2.0, source
- Pilpelchuma: מאור עטיה, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tandoori masala: Kamava1971, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chammanthi podi: Ranjithsiji, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Long pepper: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Zhug: DonIncognito, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mustard: Rainer Zenz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Merkén: Jorge Barrios, Public domain, source
- Chipotle: User:Carstor, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Thai basil: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Shishito pepper: Sotaque, CC0, source
- Chaat masala: Khurram Shehzad / Flickr user: Lekum's ( https://www.flickr.com/photos, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kroeung: Goomba King ( en:User:Trilinguist ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Yuzu koshō: njt, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chili oil: Alpha, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Red Savina: User Avriette on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Espelette pepper: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Aleppo pepper: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Shichimi: http://www.recipelab.jp/sozai/detail/1779/, CC0, source
- Crushed red pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Curry powder: Slick, CC0, source
- Lunumiris: Yasith Silva, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Poblano: stef yau, CC BY 2.0, source
- Carolina Reaper: Dale Thurber, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bird's eye chili: Daniel Risacher, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Paprika: Takkk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Shito: Flixtey, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Malagueta pepper: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mustard seed: Pancrat, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mala: Theorb, Public domain, source
- Yaji: Salma kyari, CC BY-SA 4.0, source