The Hot Pepper War Must Be Stopped.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.13.11.KJV

Hello! Benjamin from Brother’s Campfire here!

The Thirteen-Year Veteran of life is competitive and looks to do bigger and better things than his old man. From wrestling, marksmanship, academics and even ninja skills, he is vying for pole position.

You asked yourself, “ninja skills?”

Of course I know you asked this. It is an ancient ninja technique.

We play a waiting game, hiding behind a door or under something and try to scare each other. He is pretty good, but I have not taught him everything I know.

So the battle for supremacy rages on all fronts. When he was a small child, the Thirteen Year Veteran saw me eat something spicy and followed suit, defiance in his eyes as he refused to weep bitter regret from a stabbing sensation of throat and tongue.

That was nine years ago or so. My Beloved told me to knock it off.

“He’s a little child,” she said irritably.

My son never forgot our conflict. It started oh so innocently.

One day, I was minding my own business being perfectly peaceful when he approached.

“Here dad, try this.”

Grateful, I tried it. It was spicy and had good flavor. I said as much and thought nothing of it.

Thirsty, I went for a drink of water from the tap.

Then… The snickering came. My son, my only son, was mocking me and telling me I couldn’t handle spicy.

The little monster had declared war!

It started with a little chili pique here and there, escalated to pickled peppers, and salsas.

Then, it was jalapenos.

And then habaneros.

We haven’t been completely savage by eating them alone. (At least not all the time)

Typically, we eat them alongside beans, rice, burritos, enchiladas and watch for adverse reactions from each other.

This has become stale. Neither of us are at a point where we will say, “IT’S SPICY!

Jalapeno and Habanero Don’t Cut It.

Most of the time, our esophagus and stomachs burn first long before our mouths do.

We decided to up the game with Carolina Reapers and Scorpion Peppers.

I have a feeling this is not going to be pretty.

My Beloved needs to come home and put an end to our childish ways before we catch ourselves on fire.

Author: Benjamin

Benjamin Thiel is a husband, father, correctional professional and author of The Ongoing Tale at Brothers Campfire.

50 thoughts on “The Hot Pepper War Must Be Stopped.

      1. Lookoom says:

        Oh yes, Toronto and Paris have restaurants of all sorts, I’ve learned to be cautious after a few spicy mishaps.

        Reply
        1. Benjamin says:

          Haha! I suppose there are different types of spicy! I prefer flavor loke onion, garlic, and lime to accompany my on fire palette with spicy foods!

          Reply
  1. holly's world says:

    my tummy can’t handle spices anymore…not too much anyway!
    Better have the hose ready, just in case!
    😉

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      Ha ha!
      My stomach can’t endure what my will can. 🔥
      Thanks for the advice Holly!

      Reply
  2. Michele Lee says:

    Hilarious! I used to have spicy food challenges with my uncle. We do like our spicy in the SW! 🌶️

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      I think the challenges would go away if I ignored it. However, it will take an act of Mom for us to stop. 🤠🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

      Reply
        1. Benjamin says:

          Yeah, after doing a little research, we should have looked for ghost peppers first.
          They are not at my supermarket currently, so we will cook these highest-ranking hotties down and ad them to something like beans or potatoes to get started on this journey! 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

          Reply
  3. momof3gents says:

    My dad grew up in Panama. The man would eat spicy food and laugh while crying and sweating from the burn. I don’t go that far but I LOVE spicy food. I say go for it. You are never as adventurous as you are when you are young. And who doesn’t love a competition?

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      I like to sweat when I eat spicy food. Sounds like my kind of people!

      🤠🔥😂🔥🔥🔥

      Reply
  4. mattsnyder1970 says:

    I used to be able to handle the heat, but those days are pretty much gone. Good luck with latest peppers.

    Reply
  5. cheriewhite says:

    I used to could handle hot peppers, but with the ulcers I have today, those days are official over and have been for a while now. Good luck, Ben! 🔥🔥🔥

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      Ha ha! I am eating habanero with some tomales as I answer this. My eyes are watering from the sheer amount.

      Gotta stay trained with young competition!

      Reply
      1. cheriewhite says:

        Hahaha! I hear ya. Guys can be super competitive with each other as can women. Only women are sneakier and nastier with theirs. 🤣😂 May the best man win, Ben! 🏆🎖

        Reply
        1. Benjamin says:

          Fortunately for both of us, we are not going around just eating peppers. We will break these beauties down at a simmer and mix with something tasty.

          We love us some spicy. ( I know deep down who the best man will be eventually. )

          Reply
          1. Benjamin says:

            I will write about it soon! 🤠🔥🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶😂

  6. herbthiel says:

    Why would you take something that says, “Avoid contact with skin and eyes,” a phrase required by OSHA on the MSDS of many chemicals, and stick it in your mouth and think that’s okay? “I got some pepper juice in my eye! I can’t see! I can’t see! Quick, let me eat it!”

    Reply
  7. Stacey B says:

    You know what you have to do? Eat just a regular old no heat green pepper and act like it’s SO spicy. I mean play it up BIG. Put a little water on your forehead to mimic sweat. Conceal a bottle of saline on your person to spray on your cheeks to look like tears. I’m not sure what this will solve. But, but it’ll do something.

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      Hello Stacy B!

      I think one of the more popular videos of eating a Carolina Reaper is fake.

      My son and I are going the distance. There is no back up or back down here and we refuse to “fake it till we make it.”

      That is some good advice for theatrics though! 😂🤠🔥🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

      Reply
  8. kagould17 says:

    I like spice, but I also like to taste the food through the spice. One year, we ordered something called Chernobyl Chicken Wings from the local Smokehouse BBQ. After one bite, I had 3 involuntary hiccups. Then I made the fatal mistake of rubbing my watering eyes, before washing the BBQ rub off my fingers in a 3 hour process. We still talk about that New Year’s Eve. Then there was the Indian restaurant we used to eat at. They had a spice level called Atomic. It was so spicy, the servers had to carry the plates to the side, so the wafting steam, would not burn their eyes. Happy spice play Benjamin. Allan

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      Ha ha! Amazing memories, Allan! I will be writing about my burning hands soon! 🤠🔥🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

      Reply
  9. Benjamin says:

    Hello Stacy B!

    I think one of the more popular videos of eating a Carolina Reaper is fake.

    My son and I are going the distance. There is no back up or back down here and we refuse to “fake it till we make it.”

    That is some good advice for theatrics though! 😂🤠🔥🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

    Reply
  10. Thattamma C.G Menon says:

    So wonderful story and photos 🌷👍🏻😊 inspiring 👏I like spicy food from small and some people can’t ,true 😀 Happy New Year greetings to you dear friend and your loving Family 🌷🙏🎉God Bless ❤️🙏

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      I love spicy food as well! I do like to be able to taste afterward though! 🤠🔥🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶😂😏

      Reply
      1. Thattamma C.G Menon says:

        Thank you for this message and sometimes spicy take ok , but you are not so much using chilly , but pepper lot using , isn’t? 😃So sorry that your wife never with you this New Year!
        I saw your post and Walker is most convenient , I wrote two time messages , then error came , could not sent !! Here time now 2 am 🌷 Happy New Year 2022 and grace wishes 🙏🌷🙏

        Reply
        1. Benjamin says:

          Oh, sorry about the error. It was an SSL certificate concern, but it should be fixed.

          I like all kinds of spicy things!

          Reply
          1. Thattamma C.G Menon says:

            Thank you so much 😊 Now you are busy for New Year as well 👌🎉
            This year we celebrated my son’s new home and all enjoyed 👏
            So nice you like spicy things 😋😊Best wishes 🙏

  11. Jeff says:

    Too funny! Oddly enough, the older I get, the spicier I like it. I have no interest in competing, though. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      I like flavor and preservation of the tast buds! I will make some exceptions for my son!

      Reply
  12. Omatra7 says:

    😄😄 you are crazy!! Lol

    If I get Covid again and lose my taste – I will play lol

    But otherwise I am wimp to the extreme ✌️😘

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      When I had covid, I could have eaten anything. I had absolutely no taste.
      I may be more tolerant to such things because of it. Perhaps I am tasteless in other ways as well! 🤠🔥

      Reply

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