I used to have spicy food at least 4 times a week, the hotter the better. Then covid got me and since then the hottest things I can stomach are Uncle Ben's Mexican Rice and hot Monster Munch.
I have gone hotter since I had Covid. Nearly three months later, and I can still taste very little. So I cook things so spicy that they burn, and it means I can detect at least something. Salt-and-pepper tofu, in cayenne and smoked paprika (and some other bits) sauce, is my latest go-to.
It’s been the same for me. My taste has come back a little bit a year later, but I cannot smell a thing. Not. A . Thing.
I love my spices but not to excess. Other flavours have to be identifiable, otherwise I don't really see the point. Had some pretty hot dishes in Thailand when I was there, but there are so many other flavours in Thai cooking that the heat seems to get balanced out. Went to an Indian restaurant in Thailand which was far hotter than any of the local places. We asked for everything mild, and it was still pretty hard going. I dread to think what their phal would have been like.
For a bit of light entertainment, you should check out ‘Hot Ones’ channel on YouTube. Basically celebrity interviews while eating 10 chicken wings in hot sauce of increasing scovilles. Like a cross between inside the actors studio and jackass. Weirdly brilliant.
do you test for changes 1st thing in the morning by sticking your head under the duvet after a big fart? go on, admit it ;-)
Spot on. Curries are amazing. When you can taste em. Not seeing how far you can go. when the only thing you can taste. Is fire.
When asked what I would like from the Indian restaraunt/ takeaway my reply is " whatever, as long as my tea towel holder resembles a chapped cats arse in the morning