A pleasure to burn: spicy lovers' guide

The world’s top hot cuisines

Only those who eat spicy food understand the magic of its hot taste. ''People who are big risk-takers seem to like spicy foods more''. (Penn State study) If you are one of those who enjoy the flavor of spiciness then you need to immediately check these places.

• Thailand:

The country offers a delicious list of spicy dishes like stir-fry dishes and soups. Fresh herbs and spices are the most important staples of Thai dishes. These aromatic spices give the food a distinctive flavor and presentation. Dishes you may try are:

Pad Prik is a combination of pork, chicken, or fish and vegetables like onions, peppers, garlic, and basil.

Khao Pad Nam Prik Karok ( fried rice with chili paste from hell!) consists of rice served with dried chilies and fried fish.

Tom Yum Kung is a soup consist of fried chili and chili paste as essential ingredients.

• Chinese:

Besides their high nutrition values, Chinese food is super tasty and spicy. Chinese cuisine has a mixture of sauces that highlight the flavor of all dishes; these include soy sauce, made from soybeans(wheat, and wheat bran), oyster sauce ( oysters, sugar, soy sauce, wheat flour, and water), sesame oil, rice vinegar, rice wine ( sticky rice and millet), chili sauce ( chilies, garlic, vinegar, and peppercorns), soybean paste, star anise, five-spice powder ( cloves, Sichuan, peppercorns, fennel, Chinese cinnamon, and star anise), chili powder, Sichuan peppercorn.

Top famous Chinese dishes:

Kung pao chicken

Ma Po Tofu features spice paste and Sichuan peppercorns.

• Indian:

Spices are the cornerstone of Indian cuisine. Indian Masala Dabba or spice box includes asafoetida ( dried and powdered tree resin), cumin, black mustard seeds, ground turmeric, Kashmiri red chili powder ( sukhi lal Kashmiri mirch), coriander, garam masala

( warm spice mix).

Top spiciest Indian dishes:

Pork vindaloo is a traditional meal that originates from Goa.

Phaal Curry is the hottest form of curry consist of the excessive use of chili pepper in it.

Rista is a mouth-watering dish that originates from Kashmir and is made of red meat.

• Korea:

Korean food is known for its side dishes which range from 2 to 12 banchan. Among the most common spicy ingredients are chili pepper paste, soybean paste, garlic, ginger, and scallions. Korean hot dishes to eat:

Onnuriye donkatsu ( pork cutlet )

Lee kang-sun silbijip nakji bokkeum( stir-fried octopus)

Ddeokbokki ( rice and fish cakes in chili sauce)

• Tunisia:

When compared to other North African countries Tunisian cuisine is the spiciest. the dishes are a mixture of the Mediterranean and Berber ingredients. A popular ingredient is Harissa, a mixture of chili peppers and garlic; Other ingredients are tomato paste, ginger, caraway, and saffron. If you would visit Tunisia, you'll be astonished by the beautiful colorful ceramics platters and the heady mixture of the dishes.

Here are the most common spicy dishes

Couscous is the most popular dish in North Africa. The ‘’Berber dish'' is served with a sauce of vegetables, lamb or chicken, and semolina.

Slata mechouia ( grilled salad) is a typical classic Tunisian salad served with meals. The dish is made up of tomatoes, pepper, onion, and garlic.

Oja is a hearty and delicious dish consist of tomato, egg, and harissa (essential ingredient).

Tunisian chili paste: Harisa

Tunisian people are known as ‘’Chaab al harissa’’ or people of harissa. Spicy food is ‘’written in their genetic code’’.

According to the ''Export Promotion Center,'' the exportation of Tunisian spicy product is in constant growth. It increased from 2.000 tons in 2002, 5.148 tones in 2006, 7.791 tones in 2007, 8.490 tons in 2008 to reach an apeak of 11 thousand tons in 2017.

The state exports Harissa to more than 27 countries.

During the same year, export revenues reached 50 million dinars.

Today, Tunisia produces about 12 thousand tones of harissa annually.

Tunisian spicy harissa is exported to global markets such as France, the United States, Germany, Belgium, and Russia.

In 2016 Tunisian Harissa was praised during the ''Fancy Food Show’’, which took place in New York event’’, with many other Tunisian products. The event aimed to present Tunisian harissa to the American market.

Top 5 best Tunisian Harissa brands:

• Le phare du Cap Bon
• Sicam
• Sticap
• Petit Paris
• Jouda
• Carthage Food

Top international Harissa brands

Mustapha’s Mediterranean Harissa

Entube Harissa Chilli Paste

Harissa Hot Sauce by Dea

Casablanca Market Moroccan Harissa Sauce

Nyshuk Pantry Sun-Dried Tomato Chili Pepper Harissa

Mina Spicy Red Harissa

Traditional Harissa Spread

Stonewall Kitchen Harissa Sauce