Has Chipotle’s red-hot salsa REALLY gotten too spicy? DailyMail.com put “Satan’s Spit” to the test (and our reporter’s face says it all!)

Chipotle fans across America are reporting an extra kick in their favorite burrito.

Users of a 50,000-strong fansite on Reddit say the chain’s tomato red chili salsa has become unbearably hot in recent months.

TikTok was also inundated with users wondering if the sauce had gotten hotter, describing it as “Satan’s spit” and “inedible.”

As a Chipotle fan who lives and works in Manhattan, where you can’t walk two blocks without seeing the iconic twisted pepper, I had to try it for myself.

While the first slice was ok, the spice didn’t really kick in until I ate a few. After eating seven to ten chips, I had to fetch water to process the spice.

I ordered the steak burrito bowl and salsa and fries from two different Chipotle locations. Both with the infamous spicy Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa

Despite widespread speculation on social media, Chipotle told DailyMail.com: “Our Tomatillo Red Chile Salsa recipe has not changed.

“However, we use dried red chilies sourced seasonally from different regions that can have different levels of spiciness.”

However, analysis showed large differences in the levels of spiciness sold in restaurants, ranging from 2,730 to 3,420 Scoville units – which may explain some of the differences reported by customers.

Scoville measurements measure pungency by measuring how the capsaicin in pepper resists being diluted by sugar water. The more resistance it has, the spicier it is.

To get a fairly reasonable sample size, I visited two stores in the East Village and ordered two different items: the fries with hot dip and my favorite steak burrito bowl with a generous helping of hot sauce.

I usually order the milder salsa verde. Although it has a bit of a kick, it’s nice and comfortable with the rest of my Chipotle order.

When eaten with chips, the red salsa was unbearable after a few bites – even for a seasoned Mexican like me.

Even other colleagues – who describe themselves as avid foodies – have reported that it is now too hot to bear.

However, the burrito was much more manageable, probably because the spiciness is drowned out by other ingredients like cheese and rice.

At first I thought I could handle the challenge without water, but eventually I swallowed my pride and surrendered

SKIP AND DIP – MORE LIKE CRAZY AND PAIN!

Our taste test started with the chips. I grabbed a crunchy tortilla chip and a generous serving of red sauce.

A few seconds after my first bite, the spice felt good.

I started thinking to myself, “Oh, I guess people on the internet are making a mountain out of a molehill again.”

After a few seconds, I felt a spice explosion on the two edges of my tongue. Apparently they were set on fire when I swallowed the chip and dip.

Chipotle sauce uses dried peppers as a base. The peppers come from Central and South America and are filled with capsaicin extract.

The chemical is considered an irritant and neurotoxin in mammals that is known to inflame flesh – like your tongue – on contact.

According to the company, it also contains other common spices such as salt, pepper and garlic.

I also dated an AI friend for two weeks… and she charged me $70 to see naked

Popular AI chatbot app Replica has been making waves on social media for the past few months.

Despite the heat wave, the seasonings were tolerable for the first fries.

However, there was a reinforcing effect. As I ate more chips, the effect of the spice increased.

Unfortunately, I ordered a whole bag of chips and had a long way to go before I finished.

By slide six my eyes felt like they were watering and my nose was running. I could feel the bleeding heat on my forehead and cheeks.

At slide ten I had to go to the kitchen to get a glass of water – which I had forgotten in my arrogance before this challenge.

THE BURRITO – CHEESE IS YOUR FRIEND

With his mouth on fire and his belly full of water, it was time to head to the burrito bowl.

I ordered my usual white rice, black beans, steak, tomato salsa, corn and extra cheese. However, the sticking point this time was that I chose the red salsa instead of my usual salsa verde.

This is how I usually consume my Chipotle, so at least I had a comparison.

The spices were…good. While it was still spicier than I would have liked, it tasted much better when mixed with the other ingredients.

However, given the other items on the scale, it makes sense.

The heat from the chips and salsa warmed my face as I felt the fire build around my forehead and cheeks

I love cheese and choose a lot of it when I order my Chipotle. Dairy products contain a protein called casein, which is known to fight hard oils.

Chipotle says on its website, “So it appears that this is the best way to neutralize [the spice] is together with casein, the main protein found in milk.’

The starchy rice and beans in the bowl also help subdue the spice, as food experts have noted that it acts as a physical block between the spilled food and your tongue.

These products are also heavy and have properties that allow them to absorb the spicy oil, loosen it from your tongue and contain the heat.

Chipotle says the red chili contains: “dried red chili – earthy and floral, fruity and spicy, smoky and sweet.”

After the experiment, I think I will still choose the salsa verde on my burrito bowls in the future.

The worst part of this experience came right after I left the office for work that night, having eaten as much salsa as I can describe during the day.

I went to the bathroom three times that night after I got home from work and again the next morning before work, and now feel the burning sensation from the night before in another part of my body.