Here we revel in the hotness of chilis... we have habaneros which are like scotch bonnets, and make jars of sliced chilis in vinegar, which I stash in the frig, ready at a moments notice for a snack!!!
Why though? Is it the taste? The sensation? The fact that you conquered the limitations of human forbearance?
As an infant, I spent 7 months in India with my Grandparents (Grandad worked on the Indian Railway). Gran could (and did) make her own Phaal - the first mouthful would burn the roof of your mouth, but after that you didn't worry too much.
Oh strewth, you're asking me to remember something like that more than sixty odd years ago ??? I was four years old !!! - I honestly can't remember, BUT I always liked my food and all our family had a 'thing' about wasting food, so I guess I ate it all up, and if I was like what I am now, would have come back for seconds !!!
Eating hot chilis is known to make you feel cooler in hot climates. Eating hot chilis is known to have health benefits, such as getting rid of parasites in your intestinal tract. There are so many reasons to enjoy them... not to mention the endorphin rush!
I do like things a little spicy but there’s hot and then there’s FIRE. The only time I had really really hot (according to my sensibilities anyway), was for medicinal purposes. My sinuses were really bad. Felt like my eyes were being squeezed from my head when I even tried to speak. Took a wander to the local Chinese noodle bar and dowsed my plate with some of their chilli oil. Sorted me out in no time.
I like wasabi paste in the little tubes. When I put that in my soup, or on a sandwich my eyes roll back in my head and my palate explodes as my brain is flooded with endorphins. It's a rush.
If I ate beef I would! When I did, I always loved that dash of horseradish Mom would put on the plate.
Old fashioned fish 'n chip shops used to have two large jars on the marble counter, one contained pickled onions, t'other contained pickled eggs and on the shelf behind the counter there was a third jar that contained pickled gherkins.