Why is it that spicy food always seems so much spicier when hot (temperature)?

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Why is it that spicy food always seems so much spicier when hot (temperature)?

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18 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

As far as I’m aware; the way spice works is by tricking your brain into thinking your mouth is hot – so your mouth also being actually hot only adds to this.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I might not be able to ELI5 but the most voted answer is something different than you asked for. First thing you need to understand is surface tension which for now, you can understand as resistence against dissolving. Thicker fluid has higher surface tensions usually. Surface tension has inverse relationship with temperature, which means with increasing temperatue the surface tension decreases. When surface tension decreases, the dissolving power of the liquid increases and as a resut our taste bud can receive more results from the food. This is the same reason you would like to drink your coffee/tea hot because higher the temperature less is the surface tensikn, anf higher is the coffees’ ability to dissolve in your tastebud. Same thing applies with spices,taste buds can absorb the spices better when temperature is high.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Warmth reduces surface tension of liquid medium in food as well as in the saliva in your mouth. This helps better spread of chemicals throughout and you get more spicy tasty.

This is the same reason why hot soup tastes better than cold soup.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Nearly every chemical reaction rate doubles for every 20 degree f increase in temperature. This will at least be partly to blame for this effect.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Capsaicin makes your mouth perceive the temperature of the food as higher than it actually is. An average dose (can’t remember what the exact amount was but it was normal for a single fairly spicy meal) raises the perceived temp by 10 Celsius

This combines with the fact that capsaicin reacts faster at higher temperates as well

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because the fats in the spicy are turned to oil in the heat. More quickly coating the taste buds

Anonymous 0 Comments

Or why does the temperature of food feel hotter when its got more pepper?

Anonymous 0 Comments

Solubility is enhanced with temperature, thats why dishwashing and bathing are better at higher temperatures