Re: [CH] Mad Dog Inferno Hot Sauce
jim@wildpepper.com
Wed, 17 Dec 2003 15:19:11 -0500
Well, I'll weigh in here also as one of the makers who does some of that
extract stuff. Sandy O, of the moderate persuasion, asked me off list
what was up with those things & it seems to be on topic. Her question:
Re: Why do people have to make sauces that are so intense they stop
people in their tracks. Is it a macho thing, a "mine is hotter than
yours" thing or just craziness? Since they are almost impossible for
most people to eat and have little flavor since they numb the entire
mouth, what is the point of eating them?
I've given that very thing lots of thought over the years, and can give
you several reasons as to why folks (me included) make some of them them
so hot.
1.) And, #1- people BUY them :-)
2.) Truly, some people like it that hot (we're all different)
3.) Everyone knows someone who thinks that nothing is too hot
4.) Misery loves company & everyone has a name in mind ;-)
5.) Economy- a years worth of heat, one drop at a time
1.) If no one bought these, no one would make them :-) The hottest
ones, much to my consternation as well, are the best sellers. People
will walk up and say 'give me the hottest thing you got' without even
wanting to taste anything that I think might actually have some flavor
first. I do not understand the appeal, but ever strive to give the
paying public what it is they want.
2.) I maintain that no one truly likes getting 'lit up'. They just
like what is for them 'a decent hot'. Wonderously, that is an entirely
different thing for every two people. For some people katsup is a hot
sauce and for others hot sauce is katsup. I do run into the occasional
person (most often a woman) who honestly states that they like it that
hot and can handle the heat of the hottest ones with little discomfort.
I believe them when they state that they honestly like the flavor as
well.
3.) Most often these are sold to bring a braggart down to earth. As we
both know, there's hot and then there's 'hot'. Most folks think 'cause
they use Tabasco, they're one tough hombre :-) I enjoy showing them
(most often a Texan, followed closely by a Arizonian) that they really
didn't know what 'hot' was ;-) It doesn't happen so much anymore, but
when I first started selling these a decade or more ago, I'd have at
least a few people at every show walk up with a swagger and state
'You've got nothing too hot for me boy- why, I can eat a Jalapeno!'
I've come to understand the sense of joy that teachers get when they
see the light come on in a childs eye upon discovering something for the
first time :-P
4.) Upon being miserably lit up, most folks (especially Hispanics and
teenagers) immediately have to go and get two or three (or more!) of
their buddies to come and share the joy :-) Misery loves company as
they say. My booth at the Fiery Food Show was open over 1/2 hour after
the show had closed for the day as I had a LARGE crowd of folks all
trying my UnBEARable on a piece of the bread. It was quite a sight to
see ;-) They were all chanting and daring each other (and passers-by)
to try the stuff. A few were flopping on the floor, some were mumbling
in the corner, others were waving their arms about and shouting. The
only things missing it seems, were snakes and a pulpit :-)
5.) It is also a matter of economy. People who buy these crazy hot
ones are looking for something that they can use to heat up their own
bowl of food on the table without changing the flavor much, or bothering
the kids. A $6 or $7 bottle will last well over a year so they are
convinced that it makes good fiscal sense as well (which I encourage
;-) These sauces are NOT designed to sit around and eat on chips.
Well, this is probably more of an answer that you had counted on but I
trust it satisfactorily answers the question at hand :-)
-Jim C
Mild to Wild(R)