Invite the spice and give your tastebuds a real test this month

International Hot and Spicy Food Day is celebrated in countries around the world on January 16th each year. Explore how hot you can handle it, and dare your tastebuds to go that little bit further as people around the world push their spicy limits.

The annual celebration unearths some of the world’s daredevil foodies, who try some of the spiciest peppers on the planet. The Carolina Reaper holds the title of the Hottest Pepper in the World, with an unbelievable 2.2 million SHU (Scoville Heat Unit), compared to a jalapeno pepper, which measures at just 5000 SHU on the scale.

So bring a little spice into your life, or your heat-loving passengers, and have a dish that will bring the heat to the dinner table. An easy way to add some spice is to simply sprinkle some chilli flakes on dishes you would usually create.

Smashed avo and eggs, creamy pumpkin soup, chicken stew and even cottage cheese on crackers, can all benefit from a spice kick and all it takes is an extra shake. We love the Goodness Foods chilli flakes, perfect for topping pizzas, pasta dishes and pretty much anything you fancy.

Try covering fresh shrimp in datil seasoning before pan frying or throwing on the barbeque. Loaded with delicious flavour and spice, they make a wonderful appetizer, and are also a perfectly elegant main course. Serve over rice, pasta, spaghetti squash, cheese grits, zucchini spirals, and you will have an award-winning meal with a giant kick.