Create Your Own Heat with These Hot Spices!

Love the heat? So do we! That's why we're sharing some of our favorite hot spices.

Add more chilis, peppercorns, and hot spices to your life! Peppercorns and chilis are grown worldwide, and each type has a unique flavor and heat profile. Old Town Spice Shop, your local spice store, carries more than 25 different chilis and peppers for you to try!

Things You May Not Know About Peppercorns

Black, white, Tellicherry, and green peppercorns all come from the same plant, but their ripeness and method of preparation vary. White peppercorns are the youngest of the berries. These are soaked in water to remove the skins and then dried. Green peppercorns are unripe and the mildest of the varieties. Black peppercorns are the most common red berry picked and dried, turning it black.  The Tellicherry peppercorns are over-ripened red berries picked and dried to be black. These over-ripened berries provide the most significant amount of flavor. 

You can get the best flavor from pepper if you use whole peppercorns and grind them fresh before use. You can add pepper to almost any dish for extra flavor and spice! 

Fun Facts About Chili Peppers

The history of chili peppers begins in South America. Peppers are one of the first plants to have been domesticated, and chili pepper seeds from over 6000 years ago have been found in Peru and Mexico. The residue of the peppers has also been found on various ancient cooking tools. There are more than 400 different varieties of chilis that you can find all over the world. But most of them are from the same species. 

If you’ve ever eaten a chili pepper, you might have noticed that the second bite is hotter than the first. Some people believe it’s because the seeds are the spiciest part, but the flesh sets your tongue on fire. The part of the pepper closest to the stem is hotter because it has the highest concentration of capsaicin. These pepper components irritate the skin and cause your mouth to feel that distinct burning sensation. Capsaicin is produced by the plant as a defense mechanism. 

Chili peppers are a great source of vitamin C, K, A, and B6 and have many other great health benefits. They can be used in any dish to add desired heat and flavor. Most people use them in chilis, soups, sauces, and meats. 

If you like extra hot or not so much, you can find both extremes in our variety of peppers, chilis, and hot spices. 

Our Favorite Spicy Dishes

Some of our favorite spicy recipes to try this year using spices from Old Town Spice Shop include:

1. Pasta dishes: Top your pasta dishes with a freshly ground peppercorn blend for the best flavor!
2. Spicy eggs: Add some cayenne to your eggs for some added heat and flavor! It’s a great way to spice up a traditional morning meal. 
3. Nashville hot chicken: Use any Nashville hot chicken recipe with our smoked hot paprika, freshly ground black peppercorn, and cayenne for the best and spiciest chicken you’ve ever had!
4. Homemade salsa: Make some fresh salsa with our smoked serrano powder for a hot and savory flavor.
5. Korean dishes: No Korean dish is complete without our gochugaru! It can be used in stews and side dishes like spicy cucumber salad and kimchi.

Play around this summer by adding new hot spices and flavors of pepper and chili to your usual recipes. You’d be surprised how easily you can spice up a bland meal with some heat. Stop by Old Town Spice Shop today and let us help you pick the perfect spice for your dish, or visit us online at www.oldtownspiceshop.com. 

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