Bim's Kitchen - Awesome African Inspired Products

Bim’s Kitchen is a brand we had long been waiting for. We get approached quite a lot by people trying to make it into the chilli world but a lot of them are considering it as a hobby. For Bim’s Kitchen it truly is a lifestyle.

Intent on bringing good quality chilli sauces, chutneys, spice mixes, chilli pastes and curry sauces with a twist to the general public, Bim’s Kitchen have created a fantastic range and we cannot wait for you to try it.

Bim’s Kitchen uses specific ingredients as a base to make most of their products then adding various components to make them individuals such as Bim’s Kitchen African Melon Seed Curry Sauce. Our knees truly buckled under the incredible flavour of Bim’s Kitchen African Bean & Nut Curry Sauce which isn’t that spicy but oh so tasty!

Bim’s Kitchen’s chilli sauces and pastes are without a doubt one of the best ones out there, some really potent such as Bim’s Kitchen Smokin Red Hot Sauce, others are fantastic for their flavour such as Bim’s Kitchen’s African Lemon, Garlic & Pepper Sauce. The boss has certainly developed an unhealthy fixation on Bim’s Kitchen products and we literally have to pry them out of his hands so he doesn’t eat all of our stock!

One thing you should definitely try is Bim’s Kitchen’s African Spice & Herb Rub on roast chicken. It is really out of this world and brings a whole new dimension to the dish. It also really works on new potatoes with a knob of butter.

We could go on and on for hours about Bim’s Kitchen’s products but we’d rather let your tastebuds convince you so get your hands on Bim’s Kitchen Spicy African Ketchup, BBQ sauce, African Lemon, Garlic & Pepper Sauce or their African Chilli Coconut Sauce.

REVIEW - Cambridge Chilli Farm Habanero Gold

We first discovered Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Habanero Gold Chilli Jam at the West Dean Chilli Fiesta last year. We already had an established contact with Tim, the man behind the brand but meeting him in person definitely cemented our relationship as he is a really nice man, passionate about all things chilli related and is keen to show himself in his chilli products.

Ghost Pepper 10 chilli sauce is a prime example. Extremely hot, but so tasty, Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Ghost Pepper 10 hot sauce is fantastic when used in cooking or on cheese on toast although again, this chilli sauce is not for the faint-hearted!

Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Habanero Gold Chilli Jam is great because it of course uses the habanero chilli pepper which has a very distinct flavour. It is usually one of the hottest chilli peppers out there but Cambridge Chilli Farm counteract this by using apricots and apples in Habanero Gold Chilli Jam.

Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Habanero Gold Chilli Jam is great as a glaze for pork or chicken but we have to admit that we also use it quite a lot for breakfast on a nice piece of thick toast. Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Raspberry & Chilli Jelly is also a chilli preserve that we tend to use for breakfast or afternoon tea, especially on freshly baked scones!

Cambridge Chilli Farm is a great brand that keeps going from strength to strength so make sure to be part of the original followers and get your hands on some of its Habanero Gold Chilli Jam as soon as possible so you don’t miss out!

Butt Rub at Grillstock

Gristock is fast becoming an unmissable event in the UK and is certainly the biggest BBQ and Music Festival in Bristol. Grillstock took place on the 2nd and 3rd July this year and had varied acts, cabaret and magic going on, live music and of course a hellish chilli eating competition!

We at the Devil’s Garden wanted to mention this event as one of our brands, Bad Byron won numerous awards at this year’s event. We were told us that Bad Byron was all the rage in America so we decided to try it and haven’t looked back since. The demand is very high for this spice mix and is a definite bestseller at the Devil’s Garden.

So without further ado, here are the awards that Bad Byron won at the 2011 Grillstock:

1st prize for Best Chicken, 1st prize or Best Pork Shoulder, 1st prize for Best Brisket, 1st prize for Best Ribs and overall King of the Grill! Bad Byron also won 1st prize for Best Dessert which was a crock pot chocolate cake.

Bad Byron has been around since the early 90’s so they definitely know what they are doing and have created a varied range of products since such as the Jubilee spice rub which has been specifically designed for Seafood. As Bar Byron themselves say: “A little butt rub makes everything better”, something that we can fully agree on so quickly get your hands on some of Bad Byron’s Butt Rub before stock runs out!

Lights, Camera, Action!

We visited Edible Ornamentals a little while ago and went round the chilli farm in Bedfordshire with eager eyes, admiring the gorgeous chillies all around. Now that the weather is a bit better we cannot stop thinking how good the chilli plants must look and how many Dorset Nagas, Hungarian Hot Wax, Hercules, Jalapenos and Habaneros have fully matured (not that we are jealous of course!).

Thanks to the age of media and more precisely Twitter, we were informed that Countrywise on ITV was doing a feature on the Edible Ornamentals Chilli Farm. We were of course glued to our TV set that night when the programme was showing, laughing as the presenter ate half a Dorset Naga and nearly died on camera. A lovely tomato and chilli pasta dish that was later cooked with the chillies from Edible Ornamentals made us salivate so this is a recipe that we will definitely be doing soon, using Edible Ornamentals’ Serenade chillies. Shawn and Joanna, the people behind the brand were keen to share their passion of all things chillies and we were thrilled to see that their feature ran at a time when most people are watching so we do hope that a lot of good things come out of this for them.

West Dean Chilli Fiesta is near so we will be sure to drop by Edible Ornamentals’ tent to say hello and pick out a couple more chilli plants (or ten if the boss has his own way!). Hopefully we will be able to actually get inside the tent this time as it was so crowded last year we didn’t get a chance to introduce ourselves to Shawn and Joanna. Now that we are in contact regularly thanks to Facebook and Twitter we do hope that, in the words of Humphrey Bogart “this is the start of a beautiful friendship”!

Got the Munchies?

We all have our guilty pleasures, one of the most tenacious ones being snacking on things we probably should avoid. Most people will go for crisps rather than rice crackers or chocolate instead of a banana probably because it just feels so good to be bad...

We are as guilty here at the Devil’s Garden as anyone, voicing the excuse to anybody who will listen that we just need to curb our chilli craving before gorging ourselves with fabulous chilli snacks.

When it comes to chocolate, our first pick is Dartmoor Chilli Farm’s range of chilli chocolate available in many flavours from dark to milk, orange, mint, coffee, apricot, ginger or nuts although the Chilli Pepper Company’s 72% organic dark chilli chocolate is pretty darn awesome too!

We just LOVE grabbing a bag of Dave’s Insanity Popcorn to munch in front of the telly or LapSnack Chilli Puffs. The Chilli Pepper Company’s chilli fudge is also one of our favourites, either the hot & spicy one or the ginger version.

Fired Up Chipnuts, peanuts coated in a crispy spicy shell, are definite bestsellers at the Devil’s Garden, the XXX habanero version being the most popular, closely followed by Cajun and Chipotle.

Our stock can never be big enough for our consumers of chilli nuts though. Whether you go for Hot Headz Who Dares Burns Peanuts, Hot Headz Satan’s Nuts, Dave’s Burning Nuts or Dave’s Smokin nuts, all those chilli nuts are to die for... quite literally!

The ultimate chilli snacks for those with serious chilli withdrawal have to be Blair’s Death Rain range of chilli crisps. We tend to sell the Habanero crisps by the crate as well as Chipotle although the Cheddar and Buffalo Wings are definitely popular too!

So if just like us you just can’t resist munching on something throughout the day go visit the Devil’s Garden website where you can have your pick at delicious spicy snacks!

West Dean Chilli Fiesta is near!

If there is one event that all chilli heads should attend out of all the chilli festivals that are around it’s West Dean’s annual Chilli Fiesta.

Last year’s show was pretty amazing, with around 150 stands and more than 10,000 people attending over three days. The great thing about West Dean Chilli Fiesta is that there is a little bit of everything for everyone.

Whether you just want a nice family day out or to sample every single hot sauce, spicy nuts and crisps, chilli chutney, chilli chocolate, chilli relish or salsa, chilli jam or jelly out there (and believe us, we did give it a good try!) the day is full of merriment and good spirit. Spontaneous dancing was to be found near live bands while food stands using great chilli sauces and relishes were of course part of what made the weekend so successful.

West Dean Chilli Fiesta was of course a good opportunity to see our suppliers such as Chilli Pepper Pete, Chilli Queen, Cambridge Chilli Farm or the Chilli Pepper Company which had its infamous 10 Minute Burn hot sauce taking pride of place on its stand but also to check out new chilli brands.

Although most people think of chillies as food there was a lot more to be seen at West Dean Chilli Fiesta such as a good range of hydroponics and plant foods such as Chilli Focus or Root Riot Cubes, chilli related china and textiles as well of course as chilli plants for sale. Edible Ornamentals Chilli Farm that we went to see a couple of months back were so crowded that we didn’t even get a chance to meet with the owners.

This year we shall be attending West Dean Chilli Fiesta on the 5th and 6th August with some friends who are actually quite worried that we are going to make them try chilli sauces such as Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Ghost Pepper 10 or Chilli Pepper Pete’s Dragon’s Blood! So come along and see if you can spot the boss of the Devil’s Garden there, it won’t be too difficult with a great big tattoo of flames on his left arm!

Chilli Pepper Pete - Chilli Sauce Banned

Chilli Pepper Pete has been around for a few years now and it is a brand that is mostly known for chilli sauces such as Dragon’s Blood, Sphincter Shrinker and Smokin’ Devil although it is also greatly popular for chilli products such as Chilli Pepper Pete’s Piri Piri Oil, Liquid Fire hot sauce and of course the hotter than hot chilli curry sauces that go by the name of Nagaloo and Goan to the Loo.

The latest noise around Chilli Pepper Pete though is due to the hellish Satan’s Shit Chilli Sauce which some consider to be more of a chilli paste. Satan’s Shit was one of the first Chilli Pepper Pete’s products we put on the Devil’s Garden as we knew consumers would want to try it and brag to friends and family if they lived to tell the tale...

With the festival season upon us a lot of chilli brands are keen to impress the crowds with new or established chilli sauces but Chilli Pepper Pete’s Satan’s Shit created quite a stir at the Taste of London festival as well as the Cheltenham Food Festival in the last couple of weeks when members of the public started feeling the burn a bit too intensely and had to be seen at the first aid tent. Chilli Pepper Pete’s Satan’s Shit was later banned from both shows which created even more publicity around the chilli sauce.

The last chilli sauce we heard that was banned from a chilli festival was The Chilli Pepper Company’s 10 Minute Burn Hot Sauce. People were seen to have “episodes” where they would roll themselves on the grass in fits of uncontrollable laughter. A member of the Devil’s Garden took a bit more than she should have at the Levens Hall Chilli Fiesta last year and apparently lost her hearing for a couple of minutes!

A lot of people think that chilli sauces cannot get hot enough, well there is now proof that The Chilli Pepper Company’s 10 Minute Burn hot sauce and Chilli Pepper’s Satan’s Shit chilli sauce are not to be taken lightly!

Established chilli sauce from Chilli Pepper Pete, new name!

As you might well be aware, Chilli Pepper Pete is one of the pioneer UK brands that has really made its mark on the chilli world over the years.

With chilli products under Chilli Pepper Pete’s belt such as the infamous Satan’s Shit, Dragon’s Blood, Dragon’s Slayer, Red Nagahunter or Nagaloo Curry Paste, it is easy to understand the popularity and dedication of chilli heads all over Britain and beyond for this delectable brand.

One chilli sauce that we cannot get enough of and is definitely in our top 10 of ultimate chilli sauces of all times is Chilli Pepper Pete’s Smokin’ Devil. This chilli sauce was originally called Dragon Hunter hot sauce but Chilli Pepper Pete went through a whole rebranding in 2011 so this is now called Smokin Devil.

One thing is for sure, the magic of this chilli sauce is still there. With a very specific type of cooking, Chilli Pepper Pete’s chilli sauces, chilli and curry pastes and chilli preserves, definitely have that “je ne sais quoi” that makes you go back for more.

Chilli Pepper Pete’s Smokin Devil is made using the beloved chipotle chilli pepper which is in fact a smoked jalapeno. Other ingredients include onions, grape juice, apples, pineapple, herbs and spices but this is not to be mistaken for a sweet chilli sauce. Chilli Pepper Pete’s Smokin Devil is at its best used on its own, with a good mature cheddar or mixed in with a slow cooked fresh tomato pasta sauce.

The smokiness of Chilli Pepper Pete’s Smokin Devil is what people are after as much as the heat level which is rather medium so enjoyable for a wide range of people. It’s such as versatile chilli sauce that we use it on a daily basis, even if it is just a few drops or a good glug as there isn’t anything it doesn’t go with.

So get your hands on Chilli Pepper Pete’s Smokin Devil while stock lasts! Your tastebuds will thank you!

Edible Ornamentals: The Products

We are looking into stocking some of Edible Ornamentals chilli products but thought we would give you an overview of what we tried when going on a tour of the chilli farm.

With a strong branding and good quality jars, bottles and labels, Edible Ornamentals is not cutting any corners and decided to show themselves as professional growers from the start. The first chilli sauce that we tried was the Anaheim one. Although the mildest of the lot, the flavour was absolutely amazing and deserves pride of place in your cupboard or fridge. This is a fantastic chilli sauce to use as you would ketchup and we cannot wait to stock it so we can use it on our burgers and bangers!

Edible Ornamentals Luscious Citrus Relish is a definitely winner and one of their bestsellers. The balance between the acidity of the lemon and the richness and sweetness of the relish is amazing. We have added it to pasta tomato sauce to lift the flavour up and it was to die for. The heat is medium but highly delectable.

Edible Ornamentals Inferno Hot Sauce is rather pungent as its name indicates. This is a very good everyday sauce for those who like spice although there are other great chilli sauces to be had from Edible Ornamentals such as a Sweet Chilli Hot Sauce, and Orange Chilli Marmalade, an Onion Relish and a fantastic Bramley and Habanero Chutney. Edible Ornamentals also smoke their own jalapenos, creating chipotles to die for.

We cannot wait for Edible Ornamentals to be able to produce a wider and bigger range of chilli goodies but in the meantime will let you know as soon as some of their products are available at The Devil’s Garden!

Cambridge Chilli Farm Visit - Part 2

After visiting Cambridge Chilli Farm’s crop of chillies, we set up camp in Tim’s kitchen, in company of his wife and young son and got talking about, you’ve guessed it, chillies.

Tim made us try some chilli products that are in the making so although it is not our place to divulge anything just yet, be assured that you’ll be in for a treat once these are on the market as they are truly outstanding!

Chilli festival season is upon us so Tim talked to us about all the ones he intend to be at in 2011, one of the big ones being obviously West Dean Chilli Fiesta. We will be there of course, although only as customers, and cannot wait to see what Tim is going to bring to the mix! We hope that Cambridge Chilli Farm will get a good spot as they truly deserve to be recognised for their hard work, integrity and devotion to all things chilli. The weather will also hopefully be better than last year. We don’t know what was worse, the rain or the multitude of wasps that couldn’t get enough of Cambridge Chilli Farm’s products!

Tim unfortunately didn’t have any of his Lucky 7 Hot Sauce to give to us just yet but he said that as soon as his crop is ripe he will make plenty more so we can stock it at the Devil’s Garden. The same applies to Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Voodoo Hot Sauce made with Chocolate Habaneros, a chilli sauce that is truly to die for and one of our current hot sauce favourites!

Cambridge Chilli Farm is one of those up and coming UK brands that is full of promises and anchors its reputation in honesty, value for money and quality at all costs. We cannot wait to see what Tim has got in store in the coming years and all heartedly hope that he and his wife will get the success that they deserve.

Edible Ornamentals: The Tour Part 2

Shawn showed us around his chilli farm ran with his wife Joanna, rightly called Edible Ornamentals. After seeing the most public aspects of the chilli farm we moved on to polytunnels and glasshouses that were more for commercial use. Rows and rows of beautifully kept chilli plants such as Hercules (a popular type of chillies mainly found in supermarkets) were to be found in either polytunnels or glass greenhouses but also tomatillos which seem to be a real winner at the moment especially when sold to restaurants.

We then arrived at a big tank that is part of the ingenious irrigation system. Shawn and Joanna seem to have had a rough time when it comes to setting up an irrigation system that would free up their time and allow for a precise watering of the plants. Each chilli plant is linked to this clever irrigation system that is run by a computer and can even modify the PH of the water that runs through it. With so many chilli plants to look after we are not surprised that Shawn and Joanna went for such a high tech irrigation system albeit a costly one but definitely worth having especially in view of the scale of the chilli farm and its plans for expansion.

The commercial kitchen was definitely impressive. Although set in a container much like the ones you would see on construction sites, this kitchen is well lit, extremely clean and well laid out. Shawn explained to us what happens from the moment the chillies are picked to the moment they are washed, pureed, cooked and bottled up.

There is nothing average about Edible Ornamentals chilli sauces and preserves as we were about to find out by visiting the farm shop which is set up in a small chalet type house. Edible Ornamentals chilli products are of course available but also other items such as Italian pasta, oils and sauces from other brands. Shawn went on to make us try several types of chillies so people could notice the difference in taste and heat level between each type and the tour concluded with most people buying some of Edible Ornamentals’ chilli products or chilli plants.

Overall, it was a great way to spend a Sunday, talking to people that are passionate at what they do. We cannot wait to see Shawn at West Dean Chilli Fiesta in August. We tried to approach him last year but the stand was absolutely mobbed. We understand why now that we know a bit more about them!

Edible Ornamentals: The Tour Part 1

One of our friends offered us a tour of Edible Ornamentals chilli farm as a Christmas present so we were very excited to further our knowledge of chilli plants and discover some of Edible Ornamentals’ chilli sauces and preserves.

We arrived at Edible Ornamentals chilli farm last Sunday for the 11 am tour which was supposed to last one hour but ended up being three! We plagued Shawn, the owner and tour guide, with questions and he was great in answering all of them whilst managing the other people that had come to do the tour.

The farm is divided into several types of polytunnels. The main one is for the general public to come and view or buy chilli plants from Hungarian Hot Wax to Dorset Naga, Orange Habaneros, Serenade and many more. In the time that it took us to do the tour we saw many people just coming to the chilli farm out of the blue and buying chilli plants. They look so good and are so healthy that we do understand why Edible Ornamentals seems to be so popular with the locals.

Shawn took us to see the polytunnels called “Pick and Mix” which as you can imagine is the place where families can come and pick their own favourite chillies. This is still a work in progress although perfectly usable as it is but most chillies are still a bit too green to be picked. We can imagine how boisterous and amazing to see it must be at the height of the chilli picking season though!

The third polytunnels we saw was really impressive. Built with a special type of polyurethane that allows the heat to really stay in, we went from outside which was sunny albeit very windy to a wall of blistering heat upon entering the polytunnels. The chilli plants definitely seem to like it though and are very neatly kept!

Cambridge Chilli Farm Visit - Part 1

Since one of our friends had kindly offered us a tour of Edible Ornamentals chilli farm we decided we would take the opportunity to go and visit Cambridge Chilli Farm that is set up nearby.

We have been stocking Cambridge Chilli Farm’s products for about a year now and are addicted to chilli sauces such as Pineapple & Habanero Hot Sauce and of course Ghost Pepper 10 Hot Sauce although we are also partial to Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Habanero Gold Jam and Raspberry Chilli Jelly!

Tim is the man behind the brand and is a dedicated chilli grower who endeavours to bring out the best out of his chillies and create hot sauces and chilli preserves that people will trust and enjoy time and time again.

Cambridge Chilli Farm is set up on a quarter of an acre which is currently enough for the farm’s needs although we could sense that given the proper staff and technology Tim would be keen to have at least 6 acres to potter about with!

Cambridge Chilli Farm’s polytunnels are one of the best kept ones we have seen so far. The chilli plants are divided by type, with a dominance this year of Orange and Chocolate Habaneros and Seven Yellow Pots.

We went round each polytunnels, Tim explaining to us the influence that the weather has had on his current crop and going into detail about all the aspect of growing chillies on such a scale. The farm also has a glass greenhouse that holds several other varieties and we just loved seeing how attentive Tim was to every chilli plant, however small.

Tim definitely knows what he is on about, not only because of his knowledge in all things botanical but also because of a genuine passion for chillies.

Edible Ornamentals: An Overview

Shawn and Joanna Plumb set up Edible Ornamentals back in 2007 on the former site of Cherwood Nursery in the village of Chawston. One of our friends had gifted us a tour of the farm as a Christmas present so we jumped on the chance to see a working chilli farm.

The nursery hadn’t been used for four years when Shawn and Joanna took over so was in a pretty dilapidated state. After a few years of trial and errors they are now the proud owners of a superbly run environmentally conscious chilli farm that is making more and more noise every year that passes.

Although Shawn and Joanna started selling chilli plants at car boot sales, they have now moved on to much bigger things thanks to their hard work and dedication, supplying restaurants with their beautiful crops of chillies, making their own chilli sauces and preserves, growing specific types of chillies for other farms and private customers, allowing people to pick their own mix of fresh chillies at the farm and participating in numerous chilli festivals and farmers’ markets.

One of the integral part of who Edible Ornamentals are is providing not only the best possible crops of chillies such as Orange Habaneros, Dorset Naga, Hercules, Hungarian Hot Wax, Serenade or Jalapenos but also to produce crops of stabilised high yielding breeds of chillies for private and commercial use. There is no fleeting craze behind Edible Ornamentals. Shawn and Joanna are keen to gain a reputation for excellence without giving in to the latest trend. Their tour is definitely one we recommend to anybody remotely interested in chillies. It is a great day out for the family too even if you don’t know anything about chillies as Shawn is always around to share his passion for chillies.

Unsung Heroes: Cambridge Chilli Farm

It is hard sometimes to keep an impartial mind in the chilli world when the media is possessed with advertising the trendiest chilli sauces or hottest chillies rather than celebrating brands that value quality and integrity.

Cambridge Chilli Farm has only been around for a couple of years but Tim, the man behind the brand, is not short of ideas when it comes to chilli produce which, coupled with his great horticultural skills and knowledge, promises a great future for his up and coming chilli farm.

Cambridge Chilli Farm’s chilli sauces range from mild to rather insane, especially his Ghost Pepper 10 hot sauce which is hellish although we are also great fans of Cambridge Chilli Farm Pineapple and Habanero Hot Sauce which makes us salivate just looking at it.

Cambridge Chilli Farm chilli sauces also comprise Naga Napalm Hot Sauce, Smoky Chipotle Hot Sauce and Sweet Chilli Sauce. Although not available to trade yet, Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Lucky Seven, the only UK chilli sauce to be made with the highly fragrant (and hot!) Yellow 7 Pod Chilli Pepper, is our latest favourite and we cannot wait to offer it to the general public as soon as Cambridge Chilli Farm produces more of it.

On the other end of the spice spectrum Cambridge Chilli Farm has devised fantastic jams which are some of our bestsellers amongst which Cambridge Chilli Farm Habanero Gold and Cambridge Chilli Farm Raspberry & Chilli Jelly.

Cambridge Chilli Farm is keen to cater for all tastes so for those who like chilli chutneys and relishes just have a go at Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Red Onion and Smoky Chipotle Relish, Red Onion and Chilli Relish or Naga Napalm Onion Relish although we do recommend extreme care for your tastebuds with that one!

Cambridge Chilli Farm’s chilli jellies are starting to really be known and loved across the chilli community, especially the infamous Nagalade which is pure evil! Cambridge Chilli Farm Lime and Chilli Jelly is also a chilli jelly we would definitely recommend for its flavour which is perfectly balanced.

We aim to support UK based chilli suppliers as much as possible so why not go on The Devil’s Garden and pick something from Cambridge Chilli Farm? Your tastebuds will thank you!

Dave's Gourmet - New Products in Stock

Dave’s Gourmet is one of the staple chilli brands from the US, a brand that over the years has shown its worth by bringing us chilli sauces such as Dave’s Insanity Hot Sauce, Dave’s Hurtin’ Habanero or the ingenious Dave’s Adjustable Heat Hot Sauce.

At the Devil’s Garden we are always excited to get new products from Dave’s Gourmet and boy do we have a treat in store for you this week! First off is Dave’s Gourmet’s Jammin’ Jerk Hot Sauce which is the perfect chilli sauce to use this summer to flavour barbecued meat or vegetables (although it is a great chilli sauce to use all year round too!). We also love the particular jerk flavour of this chilli sauce when mixed into a salad dressing or simply spread on cheese on toast!

We have just received a great product from Dave’s Gourmet which is a spice shaker containing six different types of chillies either ground or in flakes. This Dave’s Gourmet’ 6 Pure Dried Chiles Shaker offers a gradual scale so you are aware of the flavour and intensity of the dried chilli you are using, namely: Ancho, New Mexico, De Arbol, Cayenne, Habanero and Chipotle.

Collectors are always contacting us, asking for the latest item to add to their collection. Well Dave’s Gourmet is notorious for their annual batch of Dave’s Insanity Ghost Pepper Private Reserve Limited Edition, numbered and signed by the man himself, presented in a cool wooden coffin box with authentication certificate inside. The 2011 batch has just arrived on British soil and is three times hotter than the original Dave’s Insanity Hot Sauce and although a collector’s item we are very tempted to open it up and have a good glug of it!

So there you go, Dave’s Gourmet is a brand close to our hearts and we hope you’ll have great fun experimenting with Dave’s Jammin Jerk Chilli Sauce, Dave’s Gourmet 6 Pure Dried Chiles Shaker and for those wanting something a bit special, Dave’s Gourmet Insanity Ghost Pepper Private Reserve Limited Edition 2011!!

Special Offers - May 2011

Here are just a few of our chilli produce on offer this month so make sure you grab yourself a treat before stock runs out!

Dartmoor Chilli Farm’s chocolate is made by Lessiter, a chocolate manufacturer that has been around for more than a hundred years so they definitely know a thing or two about chocolate! Dartmoor Chilli Farm’s fresh chillies are then added to their wonderful dark chocolate along with other goodies such as ginger pieces, apricot chunks, roasted almonds as well as cranberries and hazelnuts. The heat is sharp enough for most chilli lovers to fix their chilli cravings but not so hot that people wary of spice run away asking for mercy!

Cambridge Chilli Farm has been around for a couple of years now and is really starting to make some noise in the chilli community with evil chilli produce such as Nagalade or Ghost Pepper 10 hot sauce. On offer this month are chilli treats such as Cambridge Chilli Farm Habanero Gold Chilli Jam, a unique and delectable type of chilli jam (rather mild) that we just cannot get enough of. Cambridge Chilli Farm Lime & Chilli Jelly is a very refreshing type of chilli condiment that does wonders with chicken or mixed in a salad dressing. It is also fantastic in sandwiches and as part of a marinade.

Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Red Onion and Chilli Relish has a rich hearty flavour coming from chunky caramelised onions and Ring of Fire chilli peppers which derive from the cayenne family. It’s absolutely fantastic in a hot steak sandwich! Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Sweet Chilli Sauce is also on offer. This is a very popular sweet chilli sauce that uses the beloved scotch bonnet chilli pepper for spice and flavour!

For those who love the smoky flavour of the Chipotle, try Chilli Pepper Pete’s Dragon Hunter Hot Sauce. This is probably one of our top 3 chilli sauces using the smoked jalapeno. Dragon Hunter is a wonderful addition to pasta sauces, pizzas and can also be used as a dip with a twist!

From the States side we also have the iconic Cholula Hot Sauce that is made with the rare Pequin chilli pepper. Americans use it all the time just as you would ketchup so let yourself be taken over by its distinctive flavour!

Who Doesn't Love a Good Curry

It’s Friday night, you’re finally off work and planning to have a good weekend and the fancy of a dirty curry takes hold of you… that is until you are reminded that your pecuniary situation is not the greatest in these times of recession, and that when you did have a curry last time it wasn’t really that good in the end and certainly not healthy… By the time the driver arrived it was cold anyway or you weren’t that hungry anymore.

The answer to this age-old dilemma? Do what a lot of our customers are currently doing: Get a good curry paste and make your own spicy and flavoursome curry in a jiffy!

We have several curry pastes at the Devil’s Garden and each is different in composition and heat level. The one we use all the time is Mr Vikki’s North Indian Curry Paste. We recommend this curry paste to anyone who will hear us. There is no hassle at all thanks to Mr Vikki’s as the hard work has already been done for you! The heat is medium to hot and the jar keeps really well in the fridge so we tend to store it and use it as much as we would mustard or mayonnaise.

Chilli Pepper Pete is notorious for his chilli sauces such as Dragon’s Blood, Sphincter Shrinker or Satan’s Shit but his curry pastes are starting to make quite an impression on curry lovers. Chilli Pepper Pete’s Thai curry paste is relatively mild but the flavour is out of this world and really authentic. The lime and coriander shines through in this curry paste and when mixed in with coconut milk be prepared to have a whole crowd converging to your kitchen!

But if heat is what you are after, boy are you in for a treat with Chilli Pepper Pete’s Goan to the Loo Curry Paste. As its name indicates it is not to be taken lightly and Chilli Pepper Pete dares anybody to have a whole jar in one sitting. A lot of vegetables and spices have been combined to form this beautiful curry paste but the Naga Jolokia that provides the heat is absolutely merciless!

Unless you are made out of money, don’t mind the over-greasy taste or calories intake and are ready to wait for an hour or so before eating, curry takeaways are sometimes not worth the hassle. It is easier to get yourself a curry paste that you truly like and make yourself a dish that answers your needs at very little cost!

Unsung Heroes Series: Mr Vikki’s

There are so many chilli sauces, chutneys, spicy snacks and chilli produce in general to choose from these days that it is easy to overlook brands that have been around for a few years and endeavour to offer chilli lovers good quality chilli goodies year after year. They might not be the most fashionable ones or the most talked about but their products are definitely not to be pushed aside.

Take Mr Vikki’s for example. Adam, the man behind the brand is well known for being “the king of chilli preserves” in the north and his chilli chutneys and curry pastes go down a storm at every chilli festival. But some of his chilli sauces and chutneys sometimes get left in shadows such as his “Banana Habanero”.

Winner of a double gold award in 2009, Mr Vikki’s Banana Habanero made a lot of noise when it came out. The combination of bananas and ginger is not an obvious one but is truly delicious whilst the heat coming through from the habanero chillies is just right.

Mr Vikki’s Hot Brinjal Pickle is another example of a great chutney that slowly comes out of fashion but is no less delectable. In turn citrusy, smoky and nutty with a pungent heat that lifts the rich taste of fresh aubergine, Mr Vikki’s Hot Brinjal Pickle is a real winner. It is a fantastic sweet and tasty chilli chutney that works well on its own or with mature hard cheeses or cold meats.

Harissa can be found all over Europe and many chilli suppliers try their hands at producing this popular chilli sauce originating from Tunisia. Mr Vikki’s Lemon Harissa has a hint of garlic and the fresh tanginess of lemon that unlike many other harissa produce we have tried prevents the mix being too heavy for the palate.

So why not go beyond the fashionable chilli sauces, pickles and chutneys out there and try some of Mr Vikki’s chilli preserves for a change? You certainly won’t be disappointed!

New kind of product at The Devil’s Garden!

Yes, of course what we meant when naming our online business “The Devil’s Garden” was to indicate the spicy nature as well as the wide range of our products. But as we go along we find ourselves wanting to branch out and provide other elements that, just as with chillies, are there to enhance the flavour of your food.

This is why we decided at The Devil’s Garden to launch a section of “Herb Seeds” (in the Grow Your Own category). We have been providing chilli seeds to quite a few customers for the past months (NuMex Big Jim, Scotch Bonnets and Satan’s Kiss chilli seeds being the bestsellers so far) and were asked several times to look into selling herb seeds as garden or cooking herbs are widely used in many form of cuisine from European to American and of course Eastern.

Our first impulse was to get several types of basil herb seeds as this is a garden herb that is found in many a recipe and goes incredibly well as we all know with Italian food. We also got some Oregano, Common Thyme and Sage herb seeds as these are staples of beloved roasts and stews. Dill, Peppermint and Tarragon work wonderfully well in salads and with fish, as well as parsley. We of course got some coriander herb seeds as this is a very popular herb that is of course at its best in curries. We also decided to stock some Chamomile herb seeds as not only is the plant really ornamental with daisy-like flowers but the medicinal virtues and soothing sensation of chamomile are notorious, really relevant when you have been over-doing it with chillies!

There is still plenty of time to grow your own kitchen herbs so why not have a look at what the Devil’s Garden has got to offer and if you feel that you need a bit of help, you can browse our “Growing Equipment” section where Root Riot Cubes and plant food such as Chilli Focus (works just as well with herb seeds) can be found.

BBQ Season is Upon Us!

Well the weather seems to be improving (at last!) and the smell of barbecues is starting to be noticeable in gardens at weekends so at the Devil’s Garden we thought we would give you a few tips on how to make your party stand out:

Although technically not a chilli product, Bad Byron’s Butt Rub is a great way to add flavour to your meat. This seasoning has been running for 14 years in American and our compadres on the other side of the Atlantic can’t seem to get enough of it. The great thing about Bad Byron’s Butt Rub is that you can use it on its own or mix it with honey, olive oil, crème fraiche, butter, Worcester sauce and many more condiments and smother your food in it to create a marinade to die for!

From the creation of The Devil’s Garden we had lots of requests for a produce with hickory flavour so we hastened to offer Hot Headz Hickory Smoke sauce to the public. This produce doesn’t have any chillies either but what it lacks in heat it definitely makes up for in flavour. Just a few drops of Hot Headz Hickory Smoke will add depth to your food and you can also mix it with a chilli sauce that you really like that doesn’t have chipotle or a smoky flavour to it.

One of our biggest bestsellers at the Devil’s Garden whatever time of year is Dave’s Smokin Nuts. Not as hot as Dave’s Burning Nuts (thankfully!) these spicy peanuts are an absolute winner for flavour and still pack a punch. Flavoured with Piquin and chipotle chillies, this is a chilli snack we are always salivating about and one that is also always popular with friends and family.

Part of the 7 deadly sins collection, “Bliss” hot sauce from Sinful Sauces is a new favourite of ours. This is a medium hot chilli sauce that really works well in barbecues as is uses the smoky chipotle chilli and naga for the heat mixed in with slowly roasted tomatoes, onions, red wine vinegar, garlic, black pepper and spices.

So get the charcoal out, prepare your utensils and let’s get grilling!

Savoury Sinful Sauces

The Devil’s Garden is keen to get all chilli sinners to use and abuse some of Sinful Sauces’ of hot sauces as they are really worth the detour! 7 flavours are available in this deadly sins collection but we wanted to highlight the savoury ones to you:

“Wicked” hot sauce is made with slowly cooked roasted red peppers, juicy tomatoes, red onions, red wine vinegar, garlic, black pepper and rosemary and is using the Serrano chilli pepper (too often overlooked) for heat. This is a fantastic everyday condiment that we are using with everything that lands on our plate from chicken to fish, sandwiches and cheeses.

Now if you want something to give you a good chilli kick just try Sinful Sauces’ Wrath hot sauce. Naga is of course the dominant chilli pepper, counterbalanced with fragrant applewood smoked garlic, tomatoes, sweet red peppers, onions and red wine vinegar along with black treacle and a hint of lime to boost the whole flavour. We tend to use this sauce as you would ketchup so anything from burgers to chips, fish, pasta and cold meats.

“Bliss” is a different hot sauce altogether. It leans towards a barbecue sauce but we tend to use it in a lot more things than on grilled meats as it really is a wonderful hot sauce with a smoky flavour from chipotle chilli peppers that leaves us panting and intense heat coming from naga that takes us to an especially blissful place!

The Sinful Sauces’ 7 deadly sins collection does exactly what it says on the tin, providing a wide range of delectable hot sauces that range from mild to hot to trot and we cannot wait for sinners to tell us what they think!

Sweet Sinful Sauces

Sinful Sauces are fast gaining in popularity thanks to their “7 deadly sins” collection of hot sauces. Not only is the design of the brand very appealing but the time and effort put in by the owners of Sinful Sauces, a husband and wife team, really shows in the quality of the hot sauces.

There is a taste for everyone in the 7 deadly sins collection but our focus for now is on the sweet hot sauces such as “Envy”. The mildest of the lot, this is not your average hot sauce as Kiwi is used as a main ingredient along with a hint of lime for sharpness and green jalapenos to provide the heat. The result is a hot sauce that is incredibly alluring in colour and wonderfully refreshing in flavour.

Sinful Sauces “Passion” hot sauce is a tad hotter as orange habaneros have been used although in such a delicate way that the balance of pineapple and passionfruit is not affected. We have tried this hot sauce in smoothies and milkshares and it is just out of this world. It also works really well poured over a good piece of sponge cake.

A lot of chilli suppliers either use apricot or mango in their produce but Sinful Sauces Addiction hot sauce has got both combined along with a hint of cider vinegar so the mix is not overly sweet. Here again orange habaneros bring in some heat which means the hot sauce is entering the realm of medium hot sauces.

Last but certainly not least in the sweet hot sauces of 7 deadly sins collection is “Sublime”. Sinful Sauces have got this hot sauce just right, using clementines as the main ingredient counterbalanced with honey, lemon, lime and a touch of cider vinegar. We are really glad they used the Scotch Bonnet chilli pepper to create the heat as its particular flavour goes really well with fruity aromas whilst bringing in some heat!

We have had these hot sauces from Sinful Sauces for a couple of weeks now and just cannot decide on a favourite they are that unique so we cannot wait to see which ones becomes the most sinful!

Dragon's Blood from Chilli Pepper Pete

Chilli Pepper Pete is renowned for his unique hot sauces that combine not only innovativeness but also great flavour and of course a lot of heat!!

One of Chilli Pepper Pete’s hot sauces that made him famous is of course Dragon’s Blood. Dragon Slayer and Dragon’s Blood Batch 13 quickly followed but Dragon’s Blood is the hot sauce that won prestigious awards as you could say it is the quintessence of what a hot sauce should be.

Made with vinegar, pineapple, fresh naga, naga Bih Jolokia, Aleppo Chilli Flakes, sugar and oh, just a smidget of 6.4 MSU Chilli Extract this hot sauce is definitely not for the faint-hearted!!

A single bottle of 100 ml should last you a while as only a few drops are enough to crank the heat level of your food to the extreme in a jiffy! This hot sauce is definitely one of our bestsellers and our customers at the Devil’s Garden keep coming back for more. Some might think it is just a hot sauce to get in order to pull a funny prank on work colleagues or friends but the flavour of Chilli Pepper Pete’s Dragon’s Blood is also what a lot of people are after.

Dragon’s Blood is a successful sauce, not only because of its heat and flavour but because of its versatility so do not hesitate to experiment with it. We have used it in numerous dishes and have never been disappointed although cockiness is soon tamed when you think you are used to it and can add that little bit more! Even for an experienced chilli consumer Chilli Pepper Pete’s Dragon’s Blood is still to use with extreme caution!

REVIEW - Hot Headz Cayenne Hot Sauce

Hot Headz has been around for 15 years in the UK and is notorious for producing really good quality hot sauces using the most popular of chillies.

The cayenne chilli pepper is probably one of the most known chillies by the general public along with the jalapeno and for good reason. Of a medium heat (30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units), the flavour of the cayenne, whether you taste the yellow or red one, is what people are after. Originating from Cayenne in French Guiana, the pods of this chilli pepper are usually dried and reduced to powder or used in baking. The cayenne is also used as part of the coating for Buffalo Wings and numerous barbecue marinades or spice mixes.

Hot Headz Cayenne hot sauce is made with only four ingredients: aged red cayenne chilli peppers, vinegar, garlic and salt. The inherent simplicity of this sauce is deceiving though as the balance between heat and flavour is complex and adds depth to dishes such as tomatoey pasta sauces, soups using root vegetables and casseroles (especially sausage one!).

Hot Headz Cayenne Hot Sauce also works well as a condiment or a dip, especially when mixed with mayonnaise or hummus. We also use it quite a lot in fajitas and when making quesadillas so overall Hot Headz Cayenne hot sauce is a really good hot sauce to have around at home and add to pretty much anything that tickles your fancy!

Chilli Community Sites

Chillies, hot sauces and chilli festivals have gone from a specialist’s topic to a British national passion in only the space of a few years. Along with suppliers of chilli produce the internet has seen a real surge of chilli community forums that provide the latest news, product reviews and ensure that everyday folks can get in touch with each other and share their passion for all things spicy.

One of the latest chilli forums to come under our radar is the Chilli Temple which describes itself as “a free thinking, free speaking social chilli community on the web”. A wide range of topics are indeed available in this chilli forum from general discussion to advice on growing chilli plants as well as a market place where you can check out the latest online deals and new produce.

A cookbook section has also been created to provide you with tasty, easy and most of all spicy recipes using chillies and derivatives. The layout of this chilli community site is very user friendly and also has a cool fresh design so why not check it out and meet people that, like you, enjoy anything chilli related!

Naga Viper Challenge

Well here we are, back from Edinburgh after a great weekend with Barry Murphy and Mark Golder from Team Extreme for the Naga Viper Challenge. As some of you will know this is all in the name of the Brittle Bones Society (Barry’s daughter is sadly affected by Brittle Bones disease) as we thought it would be a good idea to sacrifice our tastebuds, oesophagus, stomachs and overall wellbeing for a good cause!

We hope to put The Devil's Garden edit of the video up within the next 24 hours so watch this space. The Chilli Pepper Company’s Naga Viper being a natural hot sauce (although as most of you are aware, the naga viper chilli has recently won the title of hottest chilli in the world so not your average jalapeno) the contestants handled things pretty well considering, although hours later stomachs still hadn’t really settled.

Hiccups were of course in order for the boss of the Devil’s Garden but at least he didn’t look like a stroke victim which is what happened when he tried another sauce from the Chilli Pepper Company i.e 10 Minute Burn! Another particular contestant ended up with some residue of the sauce in her eyes when she rubbed them without thinking which prompted much laughter and some pretty good swearing so overall, a good night for chilli madness!

The naga viper is definitely a chilli that anybody should try, even if just smeared on a toothpick as the flavour is really incredible although hard to describe unless you try it so make sure to get your hands on some of the Chilli Pepper Company Hot Sauce before limited stock runs out!

It’s also never too late to donate for the Brittle Bones Society and anything you can spare would be much appreciated: http://www.justgiving.com/nagaviperchallenge

We would like to thank Team Extreme again for their great hospitality and invitation to take part in what hopefully is the start of many more charity chilli challenges!

REVIEW - The Chilli Pepper Company Hot & Spicy Fudge

There isn’t much to dislike about fudge: it’s sweet, chewy and incredibly flavoursome. One piece is never enough which is even more true when it comes to The Chilli Pepper Company’s Hot & Spicy Fudge.

The first thing that is noticeable when trying a piece of this delicious chilli fudge is the toffee flavour that just invades the whole mouth and stays on the tongue long after you have eaten it. We have tried letting a piece melt until it’s gone but this is virtually impossible, it’s that good!

Cayenne peppers bring some heat pretty much from the start, which settles mostly at the back of the throat, creating a wonderful warming sensation rather than a harsh one. Once you have experienced that pain/pleasure feeling you won’t want to let go of the bag!

There are a good 15 pieces in each pack which doesn’t seem like much but one piece alone will take you a while to savour (although we have been known to finish a whole bag in one go whilst watching a movie!).

The Chilli Pepper Company also has a ginger version that is less spicy but with a genuine taste of ginger (rather than some chemical taste) that is overwhelmingly delightful. Both types of chilli fudge are flying off our shelves, so make sure you get yourself a pack before they run out!

Upcoming Weekend - Naga Viper Challenge

As announced in one of our previous blogs, the time has come for the Naga Viper Challenge to take place this weekend!

Mark Golder and Barry Murphy from Team Extreme invited The Devil’s Garden team along, not only to watch this “collective of nutcases” (as they call themselves) gulp down a whole shot glass of the Chilli Pepper Company’s Naga Viper Hot Sauce but also to participate in the challenge! After all it’s all for charity…

Barry’s daughter is sadly affected by Brittle Bones Disease so Team Extreme decided to set up the challenge in order to raise as much money as possible for the Brittle Bones Society.

The last time Team Extreme tried a whole shot glass of hot sauce it took them a couple of hours to recover so trying the same thing but with Naga Viper Hot Sauce which is probably the hottest natural hot sauce currently on the market should be interesting to say the least!

We know that the boss is eager to die trying it out himself and we cannot wait to see the result! Last year at the West Dean Chilli Fiesta, the boss in question tried The Chilli Pepper Company’s notorious 10 minute burn and people around him were quick to mention how much he looked like he had just had a stroke…

It is not too late to donate anything you can spare so please help Team Extreme by following this link: http://www.justgiving.com/nagaviperchallenge

More Spices from The Chilli Pepper Company

As promised, we now have some more spices from The Chilli Pepper Company here at The Devil’s Garden and what wonderful ones they are!

Winner of The Hybrid Pepper Award for Innovation and second place for Unique Dry Spice, The Chilli Pepper Company’s Flaming Peppercorns are just out of this world! Infused with Bhut Jolokia Chilli Oil, these little black devils are extremely fragrant whilst packing up a real punch! We usually crush them in a mortar and pestle but you can also use a grinder or cook them whole. Beware though, only 4 or 5 peppercorns per person are enough to spice things up a lot!

Definitely not your average spice, the Chilli Pepper Company’s own version of Kirmizi Biber, a widely used Turkish mix of sweet peppers and hot chilli pepper flakes that are salted and dried before being rubbed in oil and roasted is a great addition to sandwiches, soups, stews and pretty much all that you can think of. We even sometimes eat a pinch of this delicious blend when nobody is looking!

Smoked Jalapenos, otherwise known as Chipotle, are a must have for any chilli lovers. Although a spice easier to get than chilli infused peppercorns of Kirmizi Biber, the chipotle flakes from The Chilli Pepper Company are of a great quality and 100 % pure rather than bulked up by chilli powder like so many other commercial ones are. The smokiness and flavour that chipotle brings to any food is notorious but if you haven’t tried this yet, get your hands on a pack as soon as possible as there are already proving very popular!

The Chilli Pepper Company Spices

Known for their chilli seeds and extreme hot sauces such as Naga Viper or 10 Minute Burn, The Chilli Pepper Company has decided to develop a range of spices to make experts squeal with delight. We currently only have two different types available but will soon be adding some more onto the site so watch this space!

What sets The Chilli Pepper Company apart from other spice suppliers is the willingness to push boundaries and offer spices seldom available to the general public such as Berbere Spice. A key ingredient in African cuisine and one that has been around for centuries, it is hard to find these specific spices all in one blend. This is a spice that we have come to use on a daily basis over the last few weeks and cannot stop experimenting with. The combination of Red Chillies, Fenugreek, Ginger Root, Coriander, Allspice, Cloves, Cardamom and Ajowan seeds (similar to parsley) form a unique fragrant mix that truly delights the senses from the moment you open the shaker. We love it mixed in meaty stews but it also really works sprinkled on a simple omelette or cheese or toast!

Although made with similar spices, The Chilli Pepper Company’s Indonesian Seven Seas Spice is a totally different kind of fragrance with a somewhat more subtle flavour that works wonderfully well with fish or mild-tasting dishes. The smell coming from the blend of coriander, cumin, celery seeds, cloves, red chillies, green cardamom and cassia bark (a close relative to cinnamon) is just exhilarating, especially when cooking although we also found the spice great when mixed in with dips such as mayonnaise or hummus.

The Chilli Pepper Company still have plenty of tricks up their sleeve so be sure to check the Devil’s Garden in a few days to see what other spicy goodies are offered.

REVIEW - Mr Vikki's Apricot Chutney

We first tried this Apricot Chutney from Mr Vikki’s at the 2009 Levens Hall Chilli Fest and were amazed by its flavour. Adam Marks, the man behind the Mr Vikki’s brand is already well known in the North of England and keeps growing in reputation thanks to his wide range of preserves and hot sauces.

Mr Vikki’s Apricot Chutney is probably one of our favourites ever as it is a welcomed variant from mango chutneys that overflow the market. The great thing about this preserve is that it is not overly sweet. Despite being made with 60% apricots on average, it is the fruit that you taste when trying it out rather than its fructose.

The fresh ginger and garlic soon follow, invading your whole mouth and delighting the senses in the meantime. A hint of mustard and vinegar picks the flavour up without overpowering the overall fragrance.

You might ask yourself when the chillies come into action, well they make themselves known pretty much from the start, leaving you with a tingling sensation at the back of the throat and a slight pleasing numbing at the tip of the tongue which should be ok for chilli beginners to handle.

Overall we find Mr Vikki’s Apricot Chutney absolutely fantastic to have on its own or with a nice hard cheese such as Crumbly Lancashire. It is also great of course as a dip with poppadoms or samosas but also works well with fish wrapped up in foil and grilled on the barbecue!

Local Home Deliveries (Lancaster Area)

For those living in the Lancaster and Morecambe area, we would like to remind you that The Devil’s Garden can deliver lots of chilli goodies right at your doorstep!

Once you have chosen a selection of fiery treats (£10 minimum), just send us a quick email from our contact page (here) so we can proceed with your order and waive the delivery fee that you would normally pay when ordering through the website.

Many people who are now regular customers have already benefited from this service and keep telling us how easy and lovely it is to receive everything by hand which avoids delivery problems we have had with Royal Mail such as broken jars or burst packets of crisps.

We always offer suggestions and make people aware of the special deals we have going on at the moment which is also greatly appreciated. Chilli produce can be a bit scary sometimes and many people do not know if they will be able to handle the heat or are simply wary of the brand but are quickly reassured by our enthusiasm and thank us once they have tasted such treats as Mr Vikki’s curry pastes, Chilli Pepper Pete’s naga hot sauces or Blair’s Death Rain range of crisps!

Hot Headz Whole Chillies and Spices

What sort of bland food would we have to ingest without the wonderful use of chillies and spices eh? We started off like most people by adding too much salt and inferior pepper to our food before discovering a whole world of scents, spices and fragrant herbs. We have been experimenting for a few years now and are aware (mostly hopefully!) of what kind of spice goes with what type of food although we still come up with weird concoctions from time to time!

When setting up the Devil’s Garden we were able to play around a bit with various dried types of chillies. Our heart was set on Hot Headz’ spices and chillies as they are of great quality and fantastic to use on a daily basis, our personal favourites being their whole Chipotle Chillies (so great in Sweet Potato & Chorizo Soup!) as well as whole Habaneros (so hot yet so good!).

We also love to use less potent stuff such as dried whole Pasilla, Guajillo, Ancho, Mulato and New Mexico chillies. We couldn’t wait to try De Arbol chillies as we had heard these were fiery and very tasty and believe us, we weren’t disappointed!! For months now we have also been using Hot Headz Dried Naga Chilli Flakes which we have put in a shaker and Ground Habanero Chilli Powder which definitely adds heat to any dish, however small an amount you put in!

The great thing about these chillies and spices is that they will last you ages. Despite our constant consumption of chopped up dried chillies we never seem to reach the end of a bag!