Spicy food, can I learn to eat it?

@mipen2006 (5528)
Australia
February 10, 2007 6:37pm CST
I have been living in Thailand now for 9 years, and still can't eat their delicious spicy food. Although I like the taste, it burns my lips and tongue. Is there any secret way to stop this burning, or does it mean I just can't eat hot food?
1 person likes this
6 responses
• Australia
11 Feb 07
I was told to not lick my lips and try to avoid the food touching them. I don't know how true that is since I've never had a problem with spice, but you can try it.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Feb 07
Do you know how difficult it is not to lick your lips? Almost impossible. I think putting food in my mouth without something touching my lips would also be difficult, but thanks for the tip.
@widjaja (39)
• Indonesia
11 Feb 07
I recommend to provide a cup of warm water beside your table. My parents say that it will help to reduce the burning of hot spicy. or the modern way is you can drink gamat. It is a sea cucumber gel that have many functions. It will cover your stomach so will reduce hot of spicy. And the last is get only a little of spicy food and get a lot of rice. so a lot of rice will reduce hot of spicy
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Feb 07
It's not my stomach but my lips; they burn immediately the food touches them.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
11 Feb 07
You can easy eat spicy food if you drink a lot of water. Water can make it easy on your tounge and your lips. Hmmmm...Tom-yum soup is my favorite.
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@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Feb 07
I wish it were true. Tom Yum is one of the favorites here, but I can't eat it. My lips are supersensitive. I've tried water, but that didn't help.
@Wanderlaugh (1622)
• Australia
11 Feb 07
Bread or the equivalent is the usual way of dealing with spicy food. Plain steamed rice would probably do. Every culture which has really hot spices has something to go with them. A word of caution, though. If it's really hurting, you're not doing yourself any favors. The pain comes from the nerves reacting to the spices. Give your nerves a break, if you can't eat the really hot stuff, and have milder spices.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Feb 07
In my early days here a restaurant used to tell me a certain food wasn't spicy, but as soon as it touched my lips they burned. Then I'd argue (not in a heated fashion) with the waiter. They always were polite and changed my meal. Thanks for the sound advice Wanderlaugh.
@blindedfox (3315)
• Philippines
11 Feb 07
Too bad. That 'spicy-ness' makes those spicy food delicious. You just have to endure it if you want to savor it's taste. =)
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@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Feb 07
Unfortunately my lips are so sensitive, they burn at the slightest tinge of a spice in food. Strangely enough I can handle hot curries.
@ryanwelsh (167)
11 Feb 07
You should try spending more time with the food in your mouth rather than swallowing it as you will get past the spicey taste and ito the real flavour and also you cannoy taste the real flavour if your throught is on fire. Drink milk or yoghurt after a spicy mean if you cannot handle the aftertaste as it will instantly cool you down.
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@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Feb 07
Thanks, but my problem starts as soon as the spicy food touches my lips, they burn immediately, and I have to stop putting more in..