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Forget flowers. This Valentine’s Day we’ve got the daredevil in your life covered.
Scotland’s Aldwych Café and Ice Cream Parlor is dishing up what they’ve deemed the world’s “most dangerous ice cream”.
You have to be 18 years or older just to get a taste. Even if you pass the adult test, you’ll still need to sign a waiver warning of the ice cream’s “risk of personal injury, illness, and possible loss of life”.
Okay, maybe make sure your date is okay with that whole risk of death thing.
The makers of Respiro Del Diavolo – Italian for “Breath of the Devil” – claim the velvety red ice cream is 500 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. The Carolina Reaper pepper used comes in at a whopping 1,569,300 SHU on the Scoville scale – a measurement of pungency (spicy heat) of chili peppers.
It’s so hot, the staff say they have to wear gloves when handling the ice cream.
We’re not totally sure what's in the recipe, though the owners say it comes from a secret family recipe dating back to 1936.
Food is made spicy by an active component called capsaicin that acts as an evolutionary tool meant to dissuade potential eaters with physical pain. When consumed, capsaicin binds to pain receptors in nerves called TRPV1 in the same way heat sends warning signals to your brain through pain, hence the burning sensation in your mouth. The body reacts to this threat by removing it by overheating, sweating, rushing blood to your face, tearing up eyes, and runny noses.
Eating spicy foods takes an acquired taste that comes from eating them, becoming desensitized, and building up a tolerance. If you’re one of those people who doesn't understand how someone could stand spicy foods, then you’re not alone. One study suggests men who smother their food in spicy stuff might have higher levels of testosterone, while another paper suggests men who walk on the spicy side do it for the attention and thrill (typical).
Whether your seeking a thrill or looking to impress your date, this ice cream is sure to hit the spot. Plus, it's pretty cheap. The owners say it won't cost any more than their regularly priced ice cream scoops.
