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!