Page Last Updated:  15 Jan 2003

CHL FAQ: Terms and Definitions
Disclaimer: These are currently preliminary and "Unofficial"

• Chile
  ("Chile" is often used on the CH List. Other spellings include: ???)
  Any of a large number of peppers producing a heat sensation due to their containing capsaicinoids.
  Of or pertaining to the use of chile peppers.

• Chili
  1) A spicy "stew" generally containing beef and peppers including chile peppers.
  2) Powder - A spice mixture used in the preparation of chili (stew), containing powdered chile peppers.
  For info on Championship Chili: Chili Appreciation Society International   (Attend a Chili cookoff if you want some great chili! - generally open to public.)

• ChileHead (CH)
  Anyone who likes to eat chile peppers or food prepared with chile peppers.

• Knuckle-Dragger  Click for Image
  A CH who tends to be an extreme aficionado of the chile -- and isn't particularly bashful about it.
  (Once intended by some as derogatory, now taken as a badge of distinction.)

• ChileHead (CH)
  Anyone who likes to eat chile peppers or food prepared with chile peppers.

• Hotluck
  Like a "potluck", but where most of the food items employ Chile peppers. A CH generally hosts the the event at his/her house, and chileheads bring thier favorite chile food (or drink).

• Scoville Units
  A subjective taste test for evaluating the heat levels of chile peppers. Developed in 1912 by a Parke Davis chemist, Wilbur Scoville.
  For more information see Uncle Steve   or   Garden Web

• YKYACHI
  You Know You're A ChileHead If ...
  • Your significant other threatens to leave if you buy just ONE MORE bottle of hot sauce. -- and you think about it.
  • You consider cayenne as being tasty, but too mild
  • You go to an authentic Hunan restaurant, ask if they can make it extra spicy -- and put hab powder on it anyway
  • You consider "Hunan Hand" as an acceptable risk. (You're a knucledragger if you like it.)
  For over three hundred more examples visit Mark