PrefaceEvery civilization has its fire. Some burn through belief, some through ambition -and some, through taste. This book began not with research, but with aquestion whispered during a meal. Why do people chase something that hurts? Whydoes a tiny red pepper make even the calmestperson sweat, gasp, and smile?From that simple curiosity came years of reading, traveling, and tasting - from the street stalls ofBangkok to the family kitchens of Mexico, frommedieval spice markets to modern YouTubechallenges.
Each encounter revealed a single truth:spice is not just flavor - it's identity, ritual, andrebellion."Burned" is a story about our shared hunger forintensity - the heat that makes us feel alive, andthe pleasure that follows pain. It's a culturaljourney through the psychology of sensation, theeconomics of desire, and the memories we buildaround fire.
PrefaceEvery civilization has its fire. Some burn through belief, some through ambition -and some, through taste. This book began not with research, but with aquestion whispered during a meal. Why do people chase something that hurts? Whydoes a tiny red pepper make even the calmestperson sweat, gasp, and smile?From that simple curiosity came years of reading, traveling, and tasting - from the street stalls ofBangkok to the family kitchens of Mexico, frommedieval spice markets to modern YouTubechallenges.
Each encounter revealed a single truth:spice is not just flavor - it's identity, ritual, andrebellion."Burned" is a story about our shared hunger forintensity - the heat that makes us feel alive, andthe pleasure that follows pain. It's a culturaljourney through the psychology of sensation, theeconomics of desire, and the memories we buildaround fire.