This Spicy Salt Will Shock You

All of a sudden it was as if someone lit a match that ignited a strip of gun powder. I felt the heat spread as quickly as a dry grass fire on a windy day. Within a half second my throat began to burn like I’d swallowed the heat of a thousand suns.

My experience in tasting Scorpion Salt™

More on this experience in a moment. But, first a little background…

Recently, I started a new side hustle business. I enjoy coming up with fun businesses, crafting with pallet wood and cooking for my family. What better business to combine all three than a gourmet salt business with hand-crafted, pallet wood salt racks?

I started by securing booth space at a local Farmer’s Market in Kimberling City, Missouri. As the Farmer’s Market began the last week of April and it was the beginning of April when I started this endeavor… there was nothing like a good deadline to get me motivated!

I quickly plotted what I would sell and narrowed it down to seven different gourmet salts. With a little research, I found some spice manufacturers that would mix my salts to my specifications and most importantly, deliver a bulk amount in time for the Farmers Market.

The first salts I chose to sell were…

• Pink Himalayan – 100% all-natural mineral salt harvested from ancient sea salt deposits found deep in the Himalayan Mountains. FDA-registered, guaranteed authentic and ethically mined. Excellent for everyday cooking, seasoned rubs and finishing.
• French Grey – Also called Sel Gris, is a Sea Salt traditionally harvested from the clay-lined salt ponds in the Guérande region of France. Known for large grey crystals and a moist texture. Great for cooking and finishing.
• Fleur de Sel – The “flower of salt.” This delicate, fluffy textured salt creates what many consider the finest finishing salt available. Carefully harvested by hand from the surface of salt ponds in the Guérande region of France. Premier finishing salt.
• Smoked Cherry – Smoked Cherrywood flaked salt is truly special with its delightful crunch and smoky flavor. Wonderful on tomatoes, steamed vegetables and meats. Best as a finishing salt but also good for roasting in that smoky BBQ flavor.
• Smoky Citrus – This Smoky Citrus salt is a perfect blend of sea salt, orange, lemon and lime peel, coarse black pepper, smoked hickory salt and ginger. Excellent on grilled fish or chicken, shrimp stir fries, roasted vegetables and even around the rim of a beverage glass!
• Smoke & Wine™ – A base of Fleur de Sel smoked over staves of Chardonnay oak barrels. A taste provokes warm, toasted oak notes delicately blended with the ripened elegance of fine wine. A perfect finishing salt or to rim drinks.
• and… Scorpion Salt™! –WARNING: This flaked sea salt is combined with one of the hottest peppers in the world, the Trinidad Scorpion Pepper! At 2 million SHU, this scorching salt is not for the faint of heart! Brings fiery heat to ribs, burgers, shrimp, salsa and even popcorn!

When my “Scorpion Salt” came in, I had to try it. I shook about an eighth of a teaspoon onto a spoon and placed it on my tongue. Here’s my description of the experience…

As the grains touched the middle of my tongue my first sensation was that of delicious saltiness. Similar to what you might find on a spicy Dorito. The sharp taste of salt and hint of spice was good, just a little zing but nothing alarming.

So, I got more daring.

I swished it around in my mouth absorbing the flavor. All of a sudden it was as if someone lit a match that ignited a strip of gun powder. I felt the heat spread as quickly as a dry grass fire on a windy day.

I swallowed.

Within a half second my throat began to burn like I’d swallowed the heat of a thousand suns. I felt the scorch from the tip of my tongue down my throat like a reverse thermometer.

It was hot!

I dare not drink water to spread the heat. Alas, the only anti-venom is cow’s milk. Yet, we have no milk in the house other than almond milk.

My son, Jack, witnessing my agony ran to the bathroom returning with a bottle of Pepto Bismal.

I hoarsely whispered thanks as I unscrewed the cap. Yet, something held me back from downing the bottle.

Perhaps it is the pride I have in enjoying spicy food.
Perhaps it is the moniker, TUFF Momma. It would be cowardly to relieve this pain. I’m tougher than that!

I screwed the lid back on.

I let my brow drip with beads of sweat. I stuck out my tongue and fanned my mouth. The singe of nerve endings slowly inched down my throat and dissipated into my intestines.

Next came the stomach cramps.

A heart burn began to flare back up through my throat. Fireworks were going off inside my body and there was nothing I could do about it!

Finally the burn began to subside and I gulped down a swig of water.

This Scorpion Salt is good!

I’ll post descriptions of the other salt taste tests very soon as well. In the meantime, the T.U.F.F. Momma Salt & Pallet Craft™ online shop is open! Vials of Scorpion Salt™ are for sale… if you dare. 😉