A poignant moment: portraits of people who have tasted the hottest pepper in the world

Mexican photographer Josef Ibarr asked models to eat habanero peppers, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the hottest pepper in the world, and observed their reactions. Surprisingly, their faces showed not only the burning pain but also pleasure.

The photo project Los Enchilados is a unique essay exploring the roots of Mexican food culture, which is characterized by incredibly spicy dishes. In Mexico, hot peppers are essential. There are 64 types of chili peppers. Hot peppers and tortillas are essential ingredients in Mexican gastronomy, just as bread and wine are in France.





Eating hot peppers is a way to gain respect in Mexico. Chili is a metaphor for how Mexicans respond to risk. It's an opportunity to show courage. Mexicans not only take this tradition seriously, they enjoy it.

For the photo series "Los Enchilados," which offers a glimpse into the real Mexican experience, the photographer asked models to eat as many habanero peppers as they could. In 1999, the habanero was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the hottest pepper in the world. You can see not only the reaction to the burning pain but also the pleasure on people's faces.