"If you're American and consider yourself to be a serious fan of all things spicy, you might need to think again. No matter how much hot sauce, Texas chili, or chili crisp you've been eating, it hasn't been enough. On the global ranking of the biggest consumers of chili pepper, the U.S. doesn't even make the top five. According to Spherical Insights, this award goes to India, which surpassed chili consumption in the next-ranked countries of China, Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia."
"India's top spot is in part due to the country's huge population but also to the amount of chili it produces. With 1.98 million metric tons grown in 2023-24 (per Seair), India has now also outranked China as the top producer of chili and accounts for 40% of production worldwide. India's love affair with spicy peppers means that 70% of what the country grows is consumed domestically."
India leads global chili consumption and production, growing 1.98 million metric tons in 2023-24 and supplying 40% of the world's chilis. Seventy percent of India's chili harvest is consumed domestically, while exports still make India the top seller worldwide. Regional cuisines vary widely, with at least nine major culinary traditions and many state-level varieties, yet chili remains the most consumed spice. Andhra Pradesh is noted for particularly spicy food using the red Guntur chili and fresh green chilis. Representative spicy dishes include pork vindaloo from Goa, Kerala fish curry, Naga pork with bhut jolokia, butter chicken, chicken tikka, and biryani, where chili adds depth rather than only heat.
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