Dave:Do you know of a remedy for taking away the "burn" after you cut up hot peppers?LizLiz:A study at the University of New Mexico suggested that rubbing your hands with vegetable oil is the best cure. Since dairy products work for the mouth, try them on your hands!DaveSuperSite visitor Leon adds: A good remedy for the burn that is associated …
Capsaicin Concentrate wanted
Dear DaveI am a chilehead as well and I have been looking for capsaicin to spike up the heat in some of my sweater sauces. I do not produce nor do I plan to produce any of these sauces for sale. I enjoy the chalange of making a good hot sauce for every food I like. "PURE CAP" does not …
Peppers burning different parts of Tongue
Dave!Pyro-Man at Pyropeppers sent me to you with this question because he says that you are the "Pope of Peppers." We have noticed that some sauces are hot on the front of the tongue while others are hot on the back of the tongue. Pyroman says he thinks it’s got something to do with the kind of pepper involved. Can …
How Scoville Units are measured
Dear Dave,How are "Scoville Units" determined, and what is the method of taking this measurement? Is it done mechanically somehow?Peace,DanHello Dan:Scoville Heat Units were first developed in 1912 by pharmacologist Wilbur Scoville, who used human tasters for his Scoville Organoleptic Test. Now, High Performance Liquid Chromatography is used to determine parts per million of capsaicin, which is then converted into …
How is Pepper Extract made
Dear Dave,I see some hot sauses are made using pepper extract. How is this concentrated extract produced and is it possible to do at home with garden grown habaneros?SeanSean:The extract, known as oleoresin capsicum is made this way: hot chiles are furnace-dried, crushed, and pelletized. They are treated with hexane, which dissolves the capsaicin. The hexane is then evaporated, leaving …