• Question: Why do chillies burn?

    Asked by Jasmine Y to Anna, Hayley, Iain, Rebecca on 21 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Rebecca Jones

      Rebecca Jones answered on 21 Jun 2015:

      Chillies burn because of the compound caoasaicin which is found within chilli peppers. This acts as a natural irritant in the wild, stopping predators from feeding on them so they can spread their seeds. This compound causes a burning sensation when they come into contact with tissues which is what you feel when you eat really hot chillies!

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