The Highland Park Farmers Market invites all New Jersey daredevils brave enough to try the market’s hottest peppers to its annual pepper-eating contest.
Admission to the event is free and will take place on Friday, August 30th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Market Pavilion on Raritan Avenue. Participants must arrive on time and register for the event in advance.
The competition involves tasting all the hot peppers on the market in ascending order, starting with those that tickle and ending with those that cause a wild spectacle of red, swollen and watery faces.
Winners will receive a Farmers Market bag full of goodies from market vendors and can proudly brag about their heat resistance. Those who can’t stand the heat are encouraged to stop by where a glass of fresh milk will be waiting for them, the event’s website says.
In past years, the tasting has included poblano, cherry pepper, jalapeño, Hungarian hot wax, Shanxi, cayenne, Thai birds eye, habanero, Scotch bonnet red, yellow bhut julokia and many sauces. This year, Highland Park chef David Bell of Capsaicin Chiles will be joining us.
If you forget to register for the event, you can still attend. The staff may be able to allocate you a place among the participants who have already registered but do not arrive on time.
To participate, you must bring an ID, be over 18 years old and sign a liability release.
