Q: Dear Fellow Hothead,How do manufacturers extract the capsaicin from the pepper to make a hot sauce hotter than a habanero?Matthew Michel A: Hello Matthew:Hot red chile peppers are dried, ground, and pelletized. They are treated with hexane, a petroleum distillate that acts as a solvent, and the result is oleoresin capsicum, a thick, reddish oil. The oil is heated …
Would love Fiery-Foods Show in Phoenix, AZ
Hello Dave:I’m a chilehead from way back. I was living in Tampa, Fl. and went to your shows there. I’ve since moved to Phoenix AZ and was wondering if or when you will bring your show here. Being the sixth largest city in the country and being what I think, is a hot sauce/salsa mecca, you should bring your show …
Spicy Online Shops
Hi, Dave:I just saw a fiery foods contest on the Discovery Channel. I’m interested in purchasing some of the hot sauces and would like to purchase on line, so can you suggest some secure sites for on line ordering?–PeterPeter:See our Recommended Retailers section.–Dave
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 …
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 …