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What is the definition of a "chilehead"???

ThrowHeat

ThrowHeat

eXtreme
In light of some recent trolling on YouTube, I'm really curious about this. What is YOUR definition of a "chilehead"? More specifically, what does it take for someone to be considered a "chilehead" in your eyes? Is there a certain number of hot peppers they need to try? Do they need to grow their own peppers? Do they need to be able to eat hot foods without tearing up? I am genuinely curious what others think the definition is.

Now personally, I think it all comes down to dedication. The number of peppers grown and/or eaten doesn't matter, as long as the person is committed to eating hot foods, continually tries to push their limits, and doesn't get deterred when they get properly lit up. My wife and I, I know that we're still rookie chileheads. But no matter how hot the foods are that we eat, we always come back for more.

Anyhow, I'm curious what others have to say on the subject.
 
To me it's anyone who likes hot sauce, hot peppers & spicy foods.

From what I can tell as an industry-term, it's used to describe those who love heat, for whom "extra hot", "superhot" or "crazy hot" sauces and peppers are produced.

I see nothing derogatory about the term, and I'd say that all of us at THP, to some degree or another, are chiliheads.

Sorry your YouTube got trolled. Happened to JHR too.
 
I don't eat fresh pods anymore. I just don't care for the taste and the instant burn.
I eat hot foods. I do a lot of cooking with fresh/ frozen/ dried pods.
I like to incorporate the flavor and heat of the chiles into food with a building heat.

A lot of people think it's cool or macho to woof down a couple of Butch Ts. I don't get that.
It's just not for me. I like the kind of heat that builds, like a bowl of Chili for instance.
When you take the first bite, it's like... "mmm that's tasty!"
by the third or fourth bite... "wow! that's hot!"
and towards the end of the first helping, you're sucking air, sweating and wanting more.

I don't really push myself to any next level, I've been eating hot food my entire life, and I know what heat level I like,
and believe me, I like heat, if a Perperoccini is a 1, and a Butch T is a 10 on the heat scale, I love a solid 7.
Sure, I can eat 10's, but why? Just to prove I can? no thanks.

I have grown the Red Savinas, Bhut Jolokia's, Peter's etc. but I kind of gave up on that.
All we really grow anymore are Fresno's and Jalapeños. I have a lot of friends here that do a much better job of growing than I.

I think it's up to the individual to judge themselves on "Chilehead status".
If some people love Tobasco sauce and that's it, well, then they enjoy it and that's awesome.

I consider myself a Chilehead, and if anyone else doesn't... well... I don't know what to tell you...
 
Lucky Dog Hot Sauce said:
To me it's anyone who likes hot sauce, hot peppers & spicy foods.

From what I can tell as an industry-term, it's used to describe those who love heat, for whom "extra hot", "superhot" or "crazy hot" sauces and peppers are produced.
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Sounds like my wife and I right there. We're still new to this, but we are already big fans of all the above

I see nothing derogatory about the term, and I'd say that all of us at THP, to some degree or another, are chiliheads.
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Yeah, I don't see the term as a negative either. If anything, it's a badge of honor to be labeled a chilehead.

Sorry your YouTube got trolled. Happened to JHR too.
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It is what it is. $#!% happens, wear a diaper. I just think it is funny that they couldn't handle my response to their BS, and then went ahead and thumbed down all of the videos on the HeatAddicts channel, as well as my personal channel. I mean how pathetic can you get?
 
Chilehead to me would be someone who has an appreciation for peppers. Whether it be feresno or scorpion it doesn't matter. Showing that appreciation through growing, making sauces, jellies, purees, food they put it in, or even eating them are just ways they show that appreciation.


Edited to add growers in there, SL is right by saying so and I can't believe. Didn't put that in there.
 
Scoville DeVille said:
I don't eat fresh pods anymore. I just don't care for the taste and the instant burn.
I eat hot foods. I do a lot of cooking with fresh/ frozen/ dried pods.
I like to incorporate the flavor and heat of the chiles into food with a building heat.

A lot of people think it's cool or macho to woof down a couple of Butch Ts. I don't get that.
It's just not for me. I like the kind of heat that builds, like a bowl of Chili for instance.
When you take the first bite, it's like... "mmm that's tasty!"
by the third or fourth bite... "wow! that's hot!"
and towards the end of the first helping, you're sucking air, sweating and wanting more.
Click to expand...

The only times I eat pods fresh is when I'm attempting the yo-yo challenge, which I do plan on defeating someday. LOL. Other than that, I prefer sampling a small sliver of a hot pepper, to become familiar with the flavor, and then using the rest for cooking. That way, the heat is much more tolerable, but the flavor of the peppers has the chance to shine through.

And chili is one of my favorite things to use hot peppers for. We had that for dinner last night, actually. That, along with some cornbread, is heaven for the taste buds. :dance:

I think it's up to the individual to judge themselves on "Chilehead status".
If some people love Tobasco sauce and that's it, well, then they enjoy it and that's awesome.

I consider myself a Chilehead, and if anyone else doesn't... well... I don't know what to tell you...
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Well said.
 
FireInTheHole said:
but will jump out of a moving vehicle to avoid a butch T.
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You and me both, dude. I tried one when I was in WA, and after chewing it up I couldn't even swallow the thing. It was that bitter to me. There was nothing even remotely pleasing about the flavor of that pepper either, and even though I spit it out, the burn was still ridiculous. I don't even know if I would ever want to cook with one after that experience.
 
"an appreciation for chiles..." is a great way to put it.

To someone who doesn't eat ANYTHING hot, a person eating a fresno would be considered a chilehead. It's not the level of heat you eat, but that you like/love spicy things. I usually think of chileheads in terms of eating spicy things, but growers are chileheads too in that they appreciate the pepper for what it is also.
 
Yeah JH, I should clarify that just because I don't eat fresh pods, I don't disrespect people that do,
It's just not my thing. I know a lot of folks actually love eating fresh pods.
If you've ever seen HH81 with a bushel of Fatalii's, case and point!

I do like slivers of fresh chiles, you got to know the flavors you're dealing with when cooking with them!
 
I'm the same way, something about a fresh pod that my stomach just doesn't like. Powders, flakes, salts, sauces. No biggie but fresh, different story.
 
I grow, eat,sleep,drink, and dream about chili's. I consider myself a chilihead. :fireball: So does anyone that really know's me :shh:
 
Sweating profusely with a stupid grin, :onfire:
Kind of like the differece between a "casual user" and an "addict".
I too take small slices of every new hot pepper I come across, but rarely eat them by themselves.

Except------

Wasn't all that long ago I though a Habenero was the hottest damn thing on the planet.
Now bacon wrapped Habenero poppers -----Mmmmmmm, bacon. I can munch a 1/2 dozen of them-----more if no one else gets to them first.
 
I'll be honest. When I saw the title to this post, I wondered "who cares?" After pondering it a bit, that's still basically my reaction - this is the kind of thing people with too much time on their hands debate ad-nauseum. When you are on your deathbed, will this be on your mind? If not, it's probably not worth the debate. That said, in my mind, anyone who considers themselves a chilehead is one.
 
geeme said:
I'll be honest. When I saw the title to this post, I wondered "who cares?" After pondering it a bit, that's still basically my reaction - this is the kind of thing people with too much time on their hands debate ad-nauseum. When you are on your deathbed, will this be on your mind? If not, it's probably not worth the debate. That said, in my mind, anyone who considers themselves a chilehead is one.
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Ya know, you aren't the first person to tell me I have too much time on my hands. LOL. I hear it all the time for my yo-yoing, actually. So it is kinda funny to hear the same things said on here. And on a semi-related note, that phrase is why I plan on getting clocks tattooed on the backs of my hands eventually. That way, I will literally have too much time on my hands.

Now back on topic, I don't really see a debate taking place here. I just see people chiming in with their definition of the word, and I've enjoyed hearing what everyone has had to say on the subject, including yours. I just hope that I can be as much of a charming curmudgeon as you are one day. :P
 
So, Juan, was someone dissing the vids saying you guys were's chileheads or something? If so, they must not of seen Jerret's Pure Evil challenge video.
 
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