Where to Find the Spiciest Foods in the World

Vindaloo Pork, originally a Portuguese dish, is made by steeping pork in red wine with garlic. The dish was given a kick when it was adapted into the Indian culture. The Bhut Jolokia, or Ghost Pepper, was added to reflect the tastes of India. Recognized as the hottest in the world, it brings the Vindaloo Pork dish into its own special category of spicy. Spices are an integral component in dishes from cultures around the world; each of which uses them in unique, and delicious, ways.  If you like your food so hot that it comes with a fire extinguisher, here are some destinations where you can indulge.

Southern India

India is home to not only Vindaloo Pork but also phaal. This is the hottest curry in the world, and it also features the infamous Bhut Jolokia. Phaal also has at least 9 to 10 other peppers, including the brutal habanero that are mixed into a thick curry. This is not for beginners!

Sichuan Province, China

Here you will find the authentic Hot Pot. Imagine a big pot filled with chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, vegetables, and basically anything else that chefs have handy, including any and all parts of a pig, cow, or chicken, eel, and other tasty treats. The star is the Sichuan “flower” peppers. Some don’t believe the Sichuan pepper to be “hot” as much as numbing!

Jamaica

You’ll need those cool sea breezes after eating Jamaican jerk chicken, pork, or goat. The jerk is made with a blend of cinnamon, cloves, garlic, salt, nutmeg, thyme, and scallions. It gets its heat from the Scotch bonnet peppers, which are as hot as the habanero. Jerk spices have their roots in African history, and they have evolved as cultures have added their own flair. You can also find Jamaican or Caribbean jerk in many restaurants in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Your Neighborhood! You don’t need to travel to exotic locales to find tongue-numbing, mind- blowing heat. Many restaurants incorporate the spices of faraway destinations into their dishes with excellent results. Whether it is the “Suicide Wings” at Hoagies and Wings in LA,  The “Hell Brined, Smoked, and Grilled Jerk Chicken Wings” at East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or the deceptively simple-looking “Level 100 Pearl’s Fried Rice” at Pearl Cafe in Florissant, Missouri, you don’t have to go far to feel the burn.