Mia Patel
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food franchise that specialises in Nashville-style hot chicken. The menu is simple, with chicken fingers served either alone or on a bun, but the variety comes from its preparation. Every piece of boneless chicken is brined for hours before being fried, and the spice is cooked into the skin and breast. Customers can order their preferred level of spiciness from seven options, ranging from No Spice to The Reaper, the latter of which is made with the Carolina Reaper pepper, which was named the world's hottest pepper in 2013. The Extra Hot option is also extremely spicy, described as kicking like Jean-Claude Van Damme.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Spice Level | Extra Hot |
| Spice Used | Carolina Reaper |
| Scoville Heat Level | 1,641,183 SHU (Guinness World Record in 2013) |
| Sensation | Mouth burning, eye watering, sweating |
| Taste | Flavour is overwhelmed by heat |
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What You'll Learn
The spice level is bearable, with a good balance of flavour
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food franchise that specialises in Nashville hot chicken. The menu is simple, serving chicken fingers either alone or on a bun, with a couple of options for sides, including fries, coleslaw, mac and cheese, and milkshakes. What sets Dave's apart is its seven levels of spice, ranging from no spice to the infamous Reaper spice level.
The Extra Hot spice level at Dave's Hot Chicken delivers a significant kick of heat. While it packs a punch, it is not unbearable, and you can still taste the chicken and enjoy the flavours. This spice level is ideal for those who enjoy high heat while also savouring the depth of flavour. The spice starts to build slowly, and then the heat suddenly intensifies, resulting in a painful burning sensation on the tongue. It may cause your eyes to water, and you might start to sweat. However, the spice level is manageable and won't leave you questioning your life decisions.
The secret to Dave's Hot Chicken lies in its preparation. Each piece of boneless chicken is brined for hours before it hits the fryer. The spice is cooked into the skin and breast, infusing flavour throughout the meat. This technique ensures that the heat is evenly distributed and provides a more nuanced spicy experience compared to other spicy food options.
The Extra Hot spice level at Dave's Hot Chicken is a popular choice for those who crave a challenge without sacrificing flavour. It strikes a delicate balance between heat and taste, allowing you to savour the chicken's quality while also enjoying the spicy kick. It is a step up from the Hot spice level, which already offers a notable spiciness that builds at the back of your throat and gradually moves towards the front of your mouth.
If you're considering venturing into the Extra Hot territory, it's advisable to have a cooling agent nearby, such as one of Dave's thick milkshakes or a side of creamy macaroni and cheese. These dairy options will help soothe your palate and provide a momentary respite from the heat. So, if you're feeling adventurous and enjoy a good spicy kick, Dave's Hot Chicken's Extra Hot spice level might just be the perfect choice for you.
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It's a slow burn, but the heat suddenly intensifies
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food franchise that specialises in Nashville hot chicken. The menu is simple, serving chicken fingers either alone or on a bun, with a couple of options for sides. However, the variety comes from its preparation. Each piece of boneless chicken is brined for hours before it's fried. The spice is cooked into the skin and breast, and customers can order their preferred level of spiciness from seven options.
The Extra Hot spice level is not for the faint-hearted. While it does start out slow, the heat suddenly intensifies. You will experience a painful burning sensation on your tongue, and your eyes may start to water. You may also start to sweat. However, if you like high heat while still being able to taste the chicken, this is the option for you.
One reviewer noted that the Extra Hot spice level was less hot than the Hot level, or at least the heat was more enjoyable. They also recommended ordering the creamy macaroni and cheese on the side, as dairy cools the mouth.
If you're feeling brave, you could try the Reaper spice level, made with Carolina Reaper peppers, which earned the Guinness World Record for the world's hottest pepper in 2013. However, reviewers have described it as "taste bud-crushing" and "regretful".
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It causes sweating, watery eyes, and a runny nose
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food franchise that specialises in Nashville-style hot chicken. The menu is simple, with chicken fingers served either alone or on a bun, but the variety comes from its preparation. The chicken is brined for hours, and the spice is cooked into the skin and breast. Dave's offers seven levels of spiciness, from "No Spice" to "Reaper".
The "Extra Hot" spice level at Dave's Hot Chicken delivers a powerful kick of heat. While you can still taste the other flavours, the heat can overwhelm them. This spice level causes a painful burning sensation on the tongue, and your eyes may start to water. You may also start to sweat, and your nose may begin to run. The heat creeps up on you slowly before suddenly crashing through.
One reviewer said that they preferred the "Extra Hot" spice level to the "Hot" level, as the former offered a more enjoyable heat that allowed them to savour the flavours. They also noted that the "Extra Hot" spice level was less overwhelming than the "Reaper" level, which made it difficult to taste any other flavour in the chicken.
Another reviewer described the "Extra Hot" spice level as kicking "as hard as Jean Claude Van Damme", indicating that it will be unbearable for many people. They also noted that the heat starts out slow before suddenly intensifying. This reviewer experienced sweating, watery eyes, and a runny nose while consuming the "Extra Hot" chicken.
If you are sensitive to spicy food, it is recommended to order a lower spice level or opt for a milkshake or macaroni and cheese on the side to help cool down your mouth.
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It's made with Carolina Reaper, the world's hottest pepper in 2013
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food franchise that specialises in Nashville-style hot chicken. The menu is simple, offering chicken fingers served either alone or on a bun, with a couple of options for sides, including fries, coleslaw, and mac and cheese. However, what sets Dave's apart is the variety of spice levels offered. Customers can choose their preferred level of spiciness, ranging from no spice to "Reaper", the hottest option on the menu.
The Extra Hot option at Dave's Hot Chicken is made with Carolina Reaper, which was recognised as the world's hottest pepper in 2013. The Carolina Reaper is a crossbreed of a ghost pepper and a red habanero, and its extreme heat comes from the density of capsaicinoids, particularly capsaicin. On average, the pepper measures 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), though individual peppers can reach up to 2.2 million SHUs. To put this into perspective, a jalapeño registers around 2,500 SHUs, making the Carolina Reaper 200 times hotter.
The Carolina Reaper has a unique appearance, with a small, pointed, stinger-like tail, and each pod is distinct. It also has a surprising fruity flavour, with a sweet initial bite that quickly turns to "molten lava". The pepper was bred by Ed Currie, who chose the name "Reaper" due to the shape of its tail.
Dave's Hot Chicken incorporates the Carolina Reaper into their spice blend, resulting in a chicken that delivers a powerful punch of heat. The spice is cooked into the skin and breast of the chicken, ensuring that every bite is packed with flavour and spiciness. The Extra Hot option is not for the faint of heart, as it delivers a intense heat that spreads across the entire mouth.
While Dave's Hot Chicken's Extra Hot option is certainly spicy, some reviewers have noted that it is not overwhelmingly so. The heat is described as having a nuanced flavour that allows diners to savour the chicken without being overwhelmed by the spiciness. The milkshakes and mac and cheese on the menu also help to balance out the heat, providing a creamy contrast to the fiery chicken.
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It's less hot than 'The Reaper', Dave's hottest spice level
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food franchise that specialises in Nashville-style hot chicken. The chicken is prepared in a specific way, with the spice cooked into the skin and breast of the chicken. The menu is simple, with chicken fingers served either alone or on a bun, with a couple of side options. However, the variety comes from the spice levels, with seven levels of spiciness to choose from, ranging from "'No Spice' to "Reaper".
The "Extra Hot" spice level at Dave's Hot Chicken is not for the faint-hearted. It packs a serious punch of heat that will leave your taste buds in stealth mode. While the heat might overwhelm the other flavours, you can still taste them. You will likely experience a painful burning sensation on your tongue, and your eyes may start to water. You might even start to sweat.
However, the "Extra Hot" spice level is not the hottest option at Dave's Hot Chicken. That title belongs to "The Reaper", which is named after the infamous Carolina Reaper pepper, which was once the hottest pepper in the world. With 1.6 million to 2 million Scoville units of heat, it far surpasses the spiciness of a jalapeno pepper, which has 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units.
Taking a bite out of "The Reaper" is not for the faint-hearted. You might experience a burning sensation in your mouth, and your eyes and nose may start to water. Some people even reported coughing, getting chills, and having stomach cramps. It is so hot that you have to sign a waiver before ordering it, and it is restricted to those over 18 years old.
In conclusion, while Dave's Hot Chicken's "Extra Hot" spice level is certainly spicy, it is not as hot as "The Reaper", which is the hottest spice level offered by the restaurant. "The Reaper" contains extract from the Carolina Reaper pepper and delivers an intense heat experience that is not for the faint-hearted.
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Frequently asked questions
Dave's Hot Chicken Extra Hot spice level has a lot of heat and will be unbearable for many people. The heat overwhelms the other flavours, but you can still taste them.
When eating Dave's Hot Chicken Extra Hot, you will experience a painful burning sensation on your tongue, your eyes will start to water, and you will start to sweat.
Dave's Hot Chicken is made with Carolina Reaper peppers, which earned the Guinness World Records title of the world's hottest pepper in 2013.
Dave's Hot Chicken offers seven spice levels: No Spice, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and The Reaper, with two additional levels in between Medium and Hot.
