You might have caught the news about chili peppers hitting the shelves of the British supermarket chain, Tesco’s. And, since it wasn’t happening on American shores, there’s a chance you just bypassed the information and moved along.
But this is really big news. And it matters to you.
It’s not just about the heat of the chili pepper on the shelf; it’s about the trend that this could create… on both sides of the Atlantic.
Meet the Tesco Peppers
The current reigning hottest chili pepper grown in the UK is the Komodo Dragon. Sure, it’s not the Carolina Reaper which is breaking world records with the heat of over two million Scovilles, but it’s not far off. The Komodo Dragon ranges around the 1.4 million Scoville level. Not only that, but the heat of this pepper is delayed for over 15 seconds so it’s entirely possible that you could have a little too much and not realize it.
More importantly, Tesco is stocking these peppers.
Tesco isn’t a small food hall or a tiny chain; it’s a giant in the UK grocery world. It’s not adding packets of Komodo Dragon chilies to its shelves because it is a boutique chain that would draw in more customers by doing so. That’s right, a major retailer is bringing super hot peppers to the public. And that’s amazing; it means that the days of finding only mild chilies and hot sauces at the grocery store are over.
This doesn’t mean that you’ll immediately find our Mad Dog chilies at your local grocery store; it will take a little bit of time. Still, this is indicative of the worldwide trend towards spicier foods and hotter condiments. Increasing numbers of consumers are making the switch – and keeping hotter hot sauces in their homes. They’re also demanding it from their favorite restaurants and fast food establishments.
What Can You Do to Help the Chile Head Movement?
One of the best things you can do to ensure that you’ve got easy access to your favorite super hot sauces is to get in contact with your local supermarkets – even if they’re chains. If you let them know that you’d appreciate some hotter sauces or fiery chili peppers, they might just make that happen for you. You can also ensure that you support initiatives already in place by purchasing locally grown chilies at farmer’s markets and letting people know where they can buy super hot sauces.
Unbelievably, you might just make waves by sharing your love for fiery foods through social media. And one day, perhaps before you realize it, you’ll find 1.4 million Scoville chilies in your grocery store. Now, wouldn’t that be something?