So Hot Right Now: Why We Love the Chile Pepper

Perhaps no other plant is as entwined with pain and pleasure as the
chile pepper. But why does it burn—and why on earth do we crave
that uncomfortable sensation? How did capsaicin's fungus-fighting,
digestion-enhancing, and adrenaline-triggering powers convince
early hunter gatherers in South America to fall in love with the
chile's tiny berry ancestors, and then European colonists to spread
chiles around the world? Plus, new insights into the rise of the
“superhots,” chilehead competitions, and a
murder-by-Carolina-Reaper attempt right here on team Gastropod. Who
survived to tell the tale? Listen in to find out! Learn more about
your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices