Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Too Hot for the Downsized Chef

I saw this article yesterday and I had to share it. According to the Associated Press, the Indian government is working to refine the "bhut jolokia," or "ghost chili" pepper into a military weapon. I love hot buffalo wings, spicy chilly and never miss a chance to add a little hot sauce to a slice of pizza, but this is some serious heat!

This native pepper holds the record for being the hottest in the world. The pepper is “more than 1,000,000 Scoville units, the scientific measurement of a chili's spiciness. Classic Tabasco sauce ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville units, while jalapeno peppers measure anywhere from 2,500 to 8,000.”

I think this is a great idea and a smart innovation by the Indian government. The use of this pepper weapon will hopefully help end conflicts quickly without anyone getting hurt. From the kitchen to the battlefield – very cool.

Next time you ask someone to pass the pepper, you may want to be a little more specific!


Indian Military to Weaponize World's Hottest Chili
By WASBIR HUSSAIN, Associated Press Writer Tue Mar 23, 7:19 am ET

GAUHATI, India – The Indian military has a new weapon against terrorism: the world's hottest chili.
After conducting tests, the military has decided to use the thumb-sized "bhut jolokia," or "ghost chili," to make tear gas-like hand grenades to immobilize suspects, defense officials said Tuesday.

The bhut jolokia was accepted by Guinness World Records in 2007 as the world's spiciest chili. It is grown and eaten in India's northeast for its taste, as a cure for stomach troubles and a way to fight the crippling summer heat.

It has more than 1,000,000 Scoville units, the scientific measurement of a chili's spiciness. Classic Tabasco sauce ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville units, while jalapeno peppers measure anywhere from 2,500 to 8,000.

"The chili grenade has been found fit for use after trials in Indian defense laboratories, a fact confirmed by scientists at the Defense Research and Development Organization," Col. R. Kalia, a defense spokesman in the northeastern state of Assam, told The Associated Press.

"This is definitely going to be an effective nontoxic weapon because its pungent smell can choke terrorists and force them out of their hide-outs," R. B. Srivastava, the director of the Life Sciences Department at the New Delhi headquarters of the DRDO said.

Srivastava, who led a defense research laboratory in Assam, said trials are also on to produce bhut jolokia-based aerosol sprays to be used by women against attackers and for the police to control and disperse mobs.

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