Korean Job Discussion Forums

The Floating World · Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Location: Here

What would happen to a person that ate one of those 1million rated chillis?

Sounds vicious man!

definitely maybe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

I'm assuming "fire spice" is tied in with "fire" chicken (불닭). I'm afraid 불닭 tends to be a lot milder these days than it was when the dish was hugely popular 5-6 years ago. There are some places that still do it right though.

There are places that use 청양고추 in different dishes (불닭, 냉면, 짬뽕, etc.) and offer you a choice in range of heat. I can tell you that the spiciest ones certainly are very hot, but in the standard Korean way that seems to wear off after a few minutes.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

ewlandon · Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Location: teacher

the "fire" spice i was talking about i think is pronounced "bul" in korean. I've only had it on chicken wings but I know they put it on other stuff. I was the only one (even amongst koreans) who could eat one chicken wing with that stuff on it. Sure it's not as shocking as cascascin extract 1,000,000 but for spicy food it does burn. I was in some serious pain after eating 5-6 of the wings.

I think they put this sauce on chicken feet too.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:27 pm Post subject:

"Bul" just means fire lol

I've had some really spicy stuff here but it doesn't rank next to the top end food elsewhere. That's better in a way, as it means it's a less painful experience. I don't need to literally melt my face off, a figurative puddle of face goo on the floor is sufficient.

I'm also wondering where you had Korean-style chicken wings. I figured they weren't terribly popular here.

The Floating World · Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Location: Here

Every street has a bul takk place.

It aint that hot, I ask for them to make it as hot as they possibly can and it baffles them no end that a waygook wants that.

I've met as many Koreans that can't handle bul takk as I have foriegners.

ewlandon · Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Location: teacher

specifically i had "bul" chicken wings at RMT (rocky mountain tavern) in iteawon. A korean friend told me that the spice is the same as "bul" so i just assumed.

But trust me those chicken wings are up there on the spicy scale. Even for a spice lover (as myself) they are too spicy to really enjoy (until you go numb then you can kind of taste the flavor that is under the fire).

The Floating World · Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Location: Here

definitely maybe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

ewlandon · Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Location: teacher

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:50 am Post subject:

ewlandon · Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Location: teacher

I do find it funny that in the west Koreans have a reputation for being the biggest spice eaters. Sure there is a lot of spicy food in Korean cuisine but most of it, as we have been saying, isn't all that spicy and plenty of Koreans cant handle much spice at all. My Korean friends still ask me of Ramyon is too spicy for me.

I guess most westerners who don't eat a lot of Asian or Mexican food would find kimchi jigea too spicy to eat?

Also, I have been told by Koreans that Koreans are genetically coded to like spicy food and that it is scientifically proven. I'm going to start a file of things scientifically proven in Korea (macholi cures cancer anyone?)

ewlandon · Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Location: teacher

I do find it funny that in the west Koreans have a reputation for being the biggest spice eaters. Sure there is a lot of spicy food in Korean cuisine but most of it, as we have been saying, isn't all that spicy and plenty of Koreans cant handle much spice at all. My Korean friends still ask me of Ramyon is too spicy for me.

I guess most westerners who don't eat a lot of Asian or Mexican food would find kimchi jigea too spicy to eat?

Also, I have been told by Koreans that Koreans are genetically coded to like spicy food and that it is scientifically proven. I'm going to start a file of things scientifically proven in Korea (macholi cures cancer anyone?)

The Floating World · Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Location: Here

A lot of foriegners that can now eat spicy foods here - did have to adjust (just as Korean kids when young do not like spicy foods and have to adjust to them - genetic hardwiring my Aunt Betty) first.

Back home I ate maddrasses, vindaloos etc but in all honesty when I got here a kimchi chigge or dwaengjang chiggae would make me go bright red, break out in sweat all over till it soaked me and make me feel ike my mouth was burning.

I'd say it took about 3 months before I could enjoy it without discomfort and now, many yrs later, I am yet to find a Korean dish that is too hot for me to handle anymore.

ewlandon · Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Location: teacher

Yeah i remember when I was a kid my dad (a spice nut) would take me for korean food and always order kimchi jigae, when I was a kid i hated that he orderd it cause it was sooooo spicy.

Now I dont find it to be spicier than your average spicy food. Same with like dakboki, my first bite of this stuff when I arrived in Korea 5 months ago I was a little bit taken by the spice, now it tastes a bit sweet and the spice doesnt linger or anything.

You get used to spice I guess.

My step dad can hardly handle a bite of the mildest spice without being really unhappy and it ruining his meal.