cumbria turns up the heat...

The world's hottest chilli is the Bhut Jolokia originating in Assam in North East India. It is the Guinness World Book Record Holder with an official Scoville heat rating of SHU 1,001,304 twice that of the previous record holder, the Red Savina. SHU stands for Scoville Heat Unit and is the amount of water needed before the chilli heat is undetectable - one drop of the Bhut Jolokia extract requires a million drops of water. Surprisingly Cumbria has a chilli producer, and perhaps even more surprisingly they grow a couple of varieties of this fantastically hot, world record holding chilli.

The Chilli Pepper Company, run by Gerald Fowler, grow and sell the worlds hottest chillies. They are based at Cark-in-Cartmel and have a small display area where you can come to see and buy seeds, chutneys, chilli powders, curry powders, and mild, medium hot and very hot chilli sauces. In August they are moving temporarily to Levens Hall where they have organised and will be participating in Cumbria's first ever Chilli Fest on the16th and 17th of August. The growing popularity of hot food has prompted this entertaining weekend which is already attracting chilli aficionados and stall holders from all over the country. So if you like it hot, fancy a little salsa, love live music then you're in for a treat at what promises to be a spicy weekend located in a beautiful setting.

Content and photography supplied by www.Artisan-Food.com, funded by Distinctly Cumbrian.