11 Countries with the Hottest Food in the World

Let’s turn up the heat with the countries with the hottest food in the world. Are you a fan of spicy food? Or maybe you are just looking for a challenge. These are the countries which have the cuisines you must try to become the ultimate connoisseur of spicy food!

They say the geography of a place acutely affects a country’s food preferences and tastes. This seems to be quite true in the case of spicy food as we see the most of the largest producers of spices are also the ones who enjoy an extra dash of spice in their foods. So be it India or the Caribbean we find them on the top section of the spice meter. Research has also shown that countries lying in the hotter regions of the world eat a lot more hot food than others. The reasons for them are also quite scientific. A lot of spices were originally used to preserve meat and other food from spoiling in a hot climate and that tradition has just stuck through generations. Spicy food also tends to make people sweat and, therefore, cool off in a hot weather.

So that explains quite a bit about regions and their food choices. We also know that most of the countries with the hottest food in the world are in Asia. But, how do we actually get to rate them? Well, we figured out a way. We looked through a host of hot recipes from different sources like Thrillist , FoodNetwork , and List25 and rated them  on the frequency of their appearance on the lists and the level of spiciness. And then we rated the countries on the number of extremely spicy foods in the respective cuisines.

On the lines countries and their connection with hotness, here are the 11 Countries with the Hottest Guys in the World.

So, if you are up for a capsaicin test – hunt down local restaurants which serve these cuisines or better still, book your tickets to these countries and get a first-hand experience. Anyway, here’s the list!

11. Bhutan,

Hotness Level: 1.2

Bhutan likes its chili peppers in abundance. Most of their meat dishes are extremely spicy. Their national dish – Ema Datshi is also their spiciest and contains generously added chili with local cheese. Other spicy dishes include Pork Fing and Kewa Pagsha.

10. Jamaica,

Hotness Level: 1.5

The food in the Caribbean country is influenced by various cultures. Jamaica loves its jerk chicken and their Scotch Bonnet Peppers are an indispensable ingredient. They use generous helpings of black pepper too.

9. Peru,

Hotness Level : 1.7

Aji pepper is a primary ingredient in Peruvian cuisine. Though the chili grown in Peru is slightly low on heat they use it in abundance in their cuisine. Spicy dishes which are a staple include Rocoto Relleno, Ceviche and Cau Cau.

8. Ethiopia,

Hotness Level: 2

Ethiopian cuisine is quite famous for its heat. The cuisine is mainly characterized by spicy meat dishes and they eat their bread with extremely spicy stews. The kiey wat is a spicy stew to try.

7. Malaysia,

Hotness Level : 2.2

Malaysian cuisine has strong influence from a host of other countries such as India and China- most of it essentially being on the spicy side. Sambal, Nasi Lemak, Otak Otak and Curry Me being among their spiciest dishes.

6. China,

Hotness Level: 2.5

The country with the most popular cuisine in the world is also one of the countries with the hottest food in the world. Chinese cuisine includes a lot of spicy variety like the Sichuan hot pot, Huo Guo and Lo Bok with Sichuan peppercorns. The stinky tofu is a much-loved ingredient invariably paired with spicy side dishes.

5. Korea,

Hotness Level : 2.7

If the steaming hot food they serve doesn’t burn your tongue, the lively additions of hot chili pepper will. Korean food can be deliciously spicy and added with spicy side dishes like kimchi. Spicy foods include Kalbi jimm and Kimchi Jiggae.

4. Mexico,

Hotness Level: 2.9

Food in Mexico is synonymous with chili peppers and well-known for being spicy. Chilies are used for flavor and added to a lot of dishes. They also use a choice of spicy salsas to go with their dishes.

3. Sri Lanka,

Hotness Level: 2.9

Sri Lankan cuisine is held in high esteem among spicy food fans of the world. Influenced by South Indian cuisine and with the country being abundant with spices, their cuisine has a lot of hot elements to boast of. Among their spicy bests is Kottu.

2. Thailand,

Hotness Level: 3.5

Among the cuisines quickly rising to worldwide fame is Thai cuisine for its unique flavors. Thai cuisine combines a lot of elements and subtly adds its heat in, which can hit you hard when you are least expecting it. It might come in the form of spicy chili sauce or nam phrik or a piping hot Tom Yam soup.

1. India,

Hotness Level: 4.5

And the crown for the countries with the hottest food in the world goes to India. Everything basically equals to spicy curry and the staple daily food also packs the extra punch. Not convinced? Go try a plate of vindaloo without heavy sweating. All the best with that!