A Manchester restaurant marked National Chilli Day with a Reaper Challenge – inviting diners brave enough to try the “hottest curry in the world”. Nicole Covell went to Zouk Tea Bar & Grill to try it out…
I wasn’t worried, until I had to sign a waiver.
I was one of those brave – or daft – enough to take on a spicy-food challenge at Zouk, a sleek and authentic Indian and Pakistan eatery just off Oxford Road.
According to the legal document I had to sign, attempting to finish a full curry “can cause serious injury or harm”.
And with good reason. The Carolina Reaper Karahi, contains three whole scorching Carolina Reaper chillis, the hottest chilli in the world ‘deemed suitable for human consumption’, measuring a whopping 1,569,300 scoville units.
You also have to be “of sound mind” to take on this dish, but anyone agreeing to take a punch from this record-breaking chilli is certainly at least a little crazy.
The restaurant holds the week-long challenge each year to mark National Chilli Day, with a variety of prizes on offer to anyone managing to complete a portion within 30 minutes.
So after signing away my sanity, my memorable meal began. Little did I know what one forkful would do to my insides.
I was initially presented with what looked like a delicious curry with all the trimmings. Rice. Naan. Even a specialised yoghurt drink to ‘soothe’ any pain. The staff obviously knew what I was getting myself in for, even if I didn’t.
At first bite, there was an initial burst of spice, but no more than your average madras. This immediately lulled me into a false sense of security.
Was that it?
Just 15 seconds later, the burning began. It filled my mouth, and then travelled down my throat, settling in my stomach. It worsened with every second that passed.
There was no flavour, just spice. Then more spice. Never-ending spice. Head-splitting, stomach-churning, throat-burning spice.
Every breath of air or word spoken was a regret, it just intensified the searing pain that I couldn’t escape from. After attempting to tell the waiter I was “managing okay”, I decided it was best to not attempt communication.
Tears streamed from my eyes as I struggled to see. I couldn’t think straight. My friends failed to hold in their laughter while watching my despairing situation.
I needed a way out, but the suffering only got worse. I tried to zone out whilst the inferno ran its raging course.
After a few minutes, it eased a little.
After 15 minutes, I felt like I was in the clear.
But complete the entire dish? Not a chance. That one bite was enough to send me running. And as soon as we left the restaurant, the stomach cramps began. After enduring 15 minutes of this – it felt like a lifetime – I finally cleared the last hurdle and was in the clear.
Vegetarians aren’t safe from this devilish dish either; Zouk offer both a vegetarian and chicken option. And for those who enjoy a kebab, The Reaper Kebab is another choice for anyone up to the challenge.
Operations manager Jessica Perry said only about eight people completed the challenge last year.
This time around? No one had been successful by the time I visited on Thursday. The challenge closes today but be warned: it’s not for the faint-hearted.
I’m usually partial to spicy curry. But after this, I think a korma will be my pick for the next few takeaways.
