Every January 16th is observed as International Hot and Spicy Food Day. This holiday encourages everyone to step out of their culinary comfort zone and eat foods that will get their taste buds up and jumping.

Some of the foods that people can enjoy on this day include Cau-Cau from Peru, Sichuan Hot-Pot from China, and Neua Pad Prik from Thailand. Or, if those foods are a bit too intense for a person’s taste buds, they can always decide to use some chili flakes, hot sauce, or peppers in their own cooking.

The History of International Hot and Spicy Food Day

Humans have used spices for over 6,000 years. The ancient Greeks enjoyed a wide variety of different spices that they imported from the East. These spices included ginger, pepper, and cassia. They also enjoyed herbs such as thyme, mint, and coriander. Theophrastus wrote two books that detailed the 600+ herbs and spices that existed between 371 and 287 B.C.

At this moment in time, we’re unable to uncover where International Hot and Spicy Food Day originated. There just doesn’t seem to be enough source material for us to determine where it came from, who created it, or when it was created. We’ll keep looking, though, and maybe one day we’ll find an answer to all of our questions.

Some Fun Facts About Spicy Foods

Since many people are fans of spicy foods, we thought we’d take a moment to list some facts about spicy foods that we’ve learned while researching International Hot and Spicy Food Day. So, without further ado, allow us to present the following facts to everyone who enjoys a little bit of heat in their diet.

• In Mexico alone, there are over 140 different types of chili peppers.
• Garlic, chilies, and onions have all been proven to kill bacteria.
• The heat produced by spicy foods is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU).

Observing International Hot and Spicy Food Day

Whether you love Buffalo Hot Wings or a bowl of Kimchi Jjigae, if you’re a fan of hot and spicy foods, then you’re going to want to observe this holiday. Enjoy some of the hottest flavors on the planet or stick with some spicy local favorites.

It really doesn’t matter. All that matters is that by the end of the day, your mouth is burning. Just don’t forget to have a glass of milk nearby to cool off the heat and use the hashtag #HotAndSpicyFoodDay on social media.