“You’re an Asian food brand? Is everything super spicy?” We get this question...a lot.
“Spicy” seems like an innocuous word - but it often comes loaded with a lot of assumptions about certain cuisines (and even the communities from which they arise!). Let's unpack that a little:
1. Not all Indian / Mexican / Chinese / [insert “ethnic” cuisine here] food is “spicy”
●These sorts of generalizations can feel like microaggressions: when we take a facet of a cuisine + apply it to the rest, it removes space for the complexity + multitudes within.
●To hinge our understanding of a cuisine on one singular aspect (“spicy”) is reductive - especially if it is rooted in a Western view of the cuisine.
●This can be flattening + restrictive to these cuisines + creators →
“Here, Indian food is associated with relatively greasy, spicy, one-dimensional cooking. Most of the Indian food I eat is not particularly spicy, but in the Western world, Indian food has become synonymous with cheap curry that is highly spiced. Americans might say 'it's not authentic, because it's not spicy,' but that's an absurd caricature of Indian food. Indian food is not necessarily spicy. In fact, a great deal of it is not spicy at all.” (Washington Post)
❌ Don’t say: “Wow, I love Mexican because I love spicy food!”
👉🏽 Try instead: “I love [insert dish], especially if it’s super spicy!”
2. Spicy ≠ “authentic”
●We talk a lot about the term “authentic” (feel free to read our blog post on this term!)
●A dish’s “spiciness” is not necessarily correlated to its “authenticity” - this once again anchors on a Western-centric view of cuisines from communities of color.
●These dishes are crafted intentionally, and sometimes a hint of spice is meant to be just that — mouth-numbing spice isn’t a universal signal of “the real deal”.
❌ Don’t say: “Only super spicy chili oils are authentic!”
👉🏽 Try instead: “I personally really love when a chili oil has a lot of spice!”
3. Spice tolerance is subjective!
●A recent “Flavor Trend Category Report” by Technomic concludes that Asian people have the highest tolerance for spicy foods, while Caucasians have the least.
●While it’s easy to joke about various cultures’ spice tolerances (or lack thereof!), it’s difficult to have a truly universal understanding of spice tolerance.
●While we try our best with things like spice meters or phrases like “Thai spicy,” it ultimately is an imperfect, if contrived measure.
●Please bring open-mindedness and patience as folks navigate their own spice tolerances, while leaving room for chefs + food creators to live their truths through what they cook!
❌ Don’t say: “This dish is way too spicy! This is not good!”
👉🏽 Try instead: “This dish is a bit too spicy for my own personal taste!”
BONUS: While we’re here, don’t use spicy to describe people!
●“Spicy” exists alongside other backhanded “compliments” that are often used to objectify, fetishize, and “other” women -- like “exotic,” for example.
●The Tempest: “We, as an entire community of women, deserve better than to be equated to food that is also often described as “juicy” or “exotic.” We deserve better than the senseless thought that we are nothing more than food in which this plate is simply lusted after, used and easily tossed away.”
❌ Don’t say: “I love Latina women, they’re so spicy!”
👉🏽 Try instead: Not using singular food adjectives to describe women of color 🙃
I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the nuances surrounding cultural assumptions related to food. I've explored various cuisines, delving into the complexities that often go unnoticed. The article you've shared addresses the stereotypical association of spiciness with certain ethnic cuisines and communities. Let's break down the key concepts discussed:
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Microaggressions and Generalizations:
- The article highlights that not all Indian, Mexican, Chinese, or other "ethnic" cuisines are inherently spicy.
- Generalizing these cuisines based on a single characteristic can be seen as a microaggression, removing the recognition of their diversity.
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Spiciness and Authenticity:
- The term "authentic" is explored, emphasizing that the spiciness of a dish doesn't necessarily determine its authenticity.
- Crafting dishes intentionally, without relying on Western-centric views, challenges the notion that only spicy foods are considered "the real deal."
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Subjectivity of Spice Tolerance:
- The subjective nature of spice tolerance is discussed, pointing out that different cultures may have varying levels of tolerance.
- Attempting to quantify spice tolerance with measures like spice meters is acknowledged as imperfect, requiring open-mindedness and patience.
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Avoiding Objectification:
- The bonus point addresses the inappropriate use of food-related adjectives, such as "spicy," to describe people, particularly women of color.
- The article advocates for refraining from objectifying language and treating individuals with respect rather than reducing them to food-related stereotypes.
In essence, the article urges readers to appreciate the diversity within cuisines, challenge preconceived notions, and approach discussions about spiciness and authenticity with cultural sensitivity.
