World Strongmen brothers Tom & Luke Stoltman on our love for spicy food

A recent survey from Flaming Grill reveals that 70% of Brits consider themselves spice lovers, with younger generations in particular leading the charge. Among under-25s, a whopping 85% claim they enjoy spicy food, compared to a more modest 54% of those aged 65 and over. This generational shift is just one indicator of how deeply rooted spice has become in British cuisine and culture.

Spice has long been woven into the fabric of the UK’s culinary identity, with curry being a standout example. Dishes like chicken tikka masala, vindaloo, and madras have been firmly adopted by Brits, with chicken tikka masala even being crowned “Britain’s national dish.” But the influence of spice stretches far beyond just curries. Thanks to the UK’s rich cultural diversity, flavours from Indian, Mexican, Thai, and Caribbean cuisines have introduced Brits to an even broader spectrum of heat. From jalapeños and Scotch bonnets to Thai bird’s eye chillies, the country’s appetite for spicy food continues to grow.

But it’s not just strongmen who are feeling the heat – a huge number of Brits are finding creative and often unconventional ways to work spicy foods into their daily lives. According to the Flaming Grill survey, more than 40% of people say that adding spice improves any dish, and 22% are known to pour hot sauce on just about everything – yes, even on foods you might not expect! Hot sauce on pasta? A third of Brits (32%) are already doing it. How about on your roast dinner? Over one in ten are happily spicing up their Sunday roast with a kick of heat. And for the truly daring, 4% of Brits have even put hot sauce on their cereal!

Aston spoke to World Strongmen brothers Tom & Luke Stoltman.

Photo by Andy Hay on Unsplash