Behold the Chemistry of Sriracha
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Get ready to find out the secrets of the magical condiment that’s beloved the world over: Sriracha!
This video lays down some knowledge on us and gives us the skinny on Sriracha. This spicy, sweet, garlicky and downright delicious hot sauce is made of fresh ground chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, salt and sugar. Sounds like a pretty simple mix, right? Well, all of these simple ingredients come together to explode in your mouth with flavor.
The chili is full of molecules called capsaicinoids that give it that spicy kick. They activate the parts of the tongue that respond to temperatures above 190 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat causes the body to release endorphins, which are what make you feel awesome, kind of like the natural high you get after running.
This explains why Sriracha makes us feel so good after eating it, especially because it’s freaking delicious. It’s almost a miraculous condiment that almost never goes bad and has a long shelf life. This is thanks to the combination of potassium sorbate and sodium bisulfite, which help it stay fresh and give it the red color we all know and love. The potassium bisulfate inhibits the growth of mold and yeast. The sodium bisulfite helps keep the entire bottle red by stopping the natural browning of the product from occurring. And thus, the magical bottle of Sriracha is seemingly immortal. And delicious.
Watch the video above to gain some more knowledge about your favorite sauce and grab a bottle to put on a snack while you’re at it!