There are certain basic human needs which, if not met, can lead to dire consequences.
No Food / Water / Sleep = Death
No Love / Family / Friends / Sex = Deep Seated Psychological Problems
(Wait this post is heading into the pits of despair!!)
There’s a different category of needs which, if not met, lead one to getting Really F’ing Annoyed!
For me, eating GOOD food well flavoured with herbs, spices and green chilly falls into this category. I literally need the SPICE of life, or else I’m just pissed. But I’m not a fan of over-spicing or abusing the use of the green chilly. I cherish my ability to enjoy simple pure tastes. I have the utmost respect for this beautiful, slender, powerful little pepper.
But there’s a rather large contingent of Kasa fans who have some seriously Hot Needs. You can spot them by the devilish look in their eyes as they ask, ‘Do you have any HOT SAUCE???’ For the past two years, I’ve been sending them straight to the source of the heat by throwing in cut up green chillies in their rolls and letting them knock themselves out. I watch them sweating, smiling and looking at me with real gratitude, as though I just put crack into their rolls.
Recently I decided to show honor my fiery-hot chilly fiends and work on that much requested HOT SAUCE. To my surprise, I’ve created a truly impressive gem. It’s a green chilly emulsion, simply named ‘The Hot Sauce’ for now. It really is amazing and hot, hot, hot. And it has super powers that I wasn’t expecting!
Whilst creating the sauce, I had to keep tasting it along the way and I’ve finally seen the light. I see where all the chilly freaks are coming from now. Me and all the Kasa crew are on a serious ‘Hot Sauce’ addiction. Just a little of this fiery, zingy, garlicky sauce on my lamb curry and rice, and I’m awake, buzzing, happy and ready to move. I definitely feel the rush!!
Surprised by this intense euphoric reaction of my body and mood (and being the dork I can be), I researched the biological science behind my reaction to the Birds Eye Chilly. It turns out the capsicum in the chilly reacts with the body’s pain receptors. My body then tells me that I’m being burned, and the result is that I feel pain.
A little sadistic? Yes. But why are billions of people addicted to this taste bud torture?
It’s the pleasure that follows soon after, the rush you receive as the body releases endorphines in response to the pain. Endorphines are natural morphine like compounds that are just about the strongest drugs you can do without doing drugs. AND they are not addictive (although I wonder), don’t incapacitate you or dull your senses.
To add to my increased admiration of the green chilly, I also learned that it is a micro miracle worker. It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, calcium and heck, it even boosts your metabolic rate.
To all of you who have ‘Hot’ needs, next time you are in, just ask for the Hot Sauce in your Kati Roll or Thali. But be careful, it’s hot! And for those who are not yet ready to go there, we still have all our dishes appropriately spiced 
Anamika
