the receptors down below the temperature at which they are activated, and the rough food distracts the nerves with a different kind of signal Though capsaicin is more soluble in alcohol and oil than it is in water, alcoholic drinks and fatty foods appear to be no more effective than cold or sweetened water at relieving the burn (carbonation adds to the irritation) If all else fails, take comfort in the fact that capsaicin pain generally fades within 15 minutes Dried Chillis Dried chillis are much more than a conveniently stable source of pungency and thickening power: they’re the source of flavor complexity that is rare even among herbs and spices The drying process concentrates the contents of the cells in the fruit wall, encouraging them to react with each other and generate dried-fruit, earthy, woody, nutty, and other aromatics Drying traditionally took several weeks in sun or shade, and in much of the world it still does Modern machine drying offers more control, and can minimize the loss of light-sensitive pigments and vitamin C, though it brings flavor differences as well Chillis are sometimes smoke-dried (Mexican chipotles, some Spanish pimentons), which lends a characteristic note Other Temperate-Climate Spices Hops Hops are the dried seed-bearing “cones” of Humulus lupulus, a perennial native of the Northern Hemisphere that is a relative of marijuana and hemp The hop plant was cultivated in the Hallertau region of Germany by the 8th century, and spread to Flanders by the 14th Though now used almost exclusively in beer, they also flavor bread and are made into an herbal tea Hop aroma depends on the variety, and may include woody, floral, and complex sulfur notes It’s described in more ... of Humulus lupulus, a perennial native of the Northern Hemisphere that is a relative of marijuana and hemp The hop plant was cultivated in the Hallertau region of Germany by the 8th century, and spread to Flanders by the 14th...shade, and in much of the world it still does Modern machine drying offers more control, and can minimize the loss of light-sensitive pigments and vitamin C, though it brings... sometimes smoke-dried (Mexican chipotles, some Spanish pimentons), which lends a characteristic note Other Temperate-Climate Spices Hops Hops are the dried seed-bearing “cones” of Humulus lupulus, a perennial native of the