Eli5, why does horseradish burn your sinuses when you eat it?

Question

I’m an avid fan of hot sauce and love all sorts of spicy foods but nothing hits quite like horseradish. It doesn’t burn my tongue like typical hot sauces but it does make my eyes water and nose burn.

In: 22

Answer 1

Do you ever take a bite of horseradish, and it feels like someone drove a nail right between your eyes? That’s the best horseradish.