In the north-east of Perth, Phillip Botha’s spice shop attracts a diverse clientele comprised of restaurant professionals, home cooks seeking to spice up their dishes, and thrill-seekers eager for a fiery challenge. Botha often encounters groups of young men who come in seeking the most intense heat to impress each other, demanding extreme spicy products with Scoville ratings exceeding a million. He recalls their stories of near-misses with heat, where they joke about almost passing out yet still yearning for more.
Interestingly, Botha notes that women are among the most loyal customers, often relishing the heat and returning for more. His store also serves as a connection point for some Asian customers who struggle to find familiar products in larger supermarkets. One notable customer buys a fiery sauce rated at two million Scovilles monthly.
Over his 16 years in business, Botha has observed a surge in popularity for chilli products, partly energised by the American TV show Hot Ones, where celebrities consume increasingly spicy chicken wings while answering questions. This trend has prompted many thrill-seekers to recreate similar challenges, often starting with milder sauces and working their way up to the fiercest offerings.
However, along with increased interest in extreme chillies, a recent incident involving a product intended as a joke—mistakenly distributed as a potent chilli spray—has raised concern. Botha emphasises the serious nature of such products, comparing their effects to being pepper-sprayed. His store sells a notable spicy item, dubbed "Satan’s Spit," which, while only rated at 1.8 million Scovilles, can still pose a significant risk if misused, much like pepper spray which can reach 2 to 5 million Scovilles.
To ensure responsible use, Botha advocates for stricter regulations around these products, suggesting they might be managed similarly to alcohol sales, with age restrictions and counter sales. His focus remains on safety, especially for younger customers keen on experimenting with these potent sauces.