Why do Asian and Latin cultures like spicy foods ?

Question

I was just eating some Thai peanut butter noodles and its hella spicy !

Answer 1

Peppers are native to the central american/mexican region and once discovered by the spanish traded with the portuguese, who had trading ports in India and Thailandish areas in the 16 and 17th centuries.  If you notice some indian  foods also contain alot of cumin, tamarind, cinnamon and chili peppers.

Answer 2

tastes good and historical preservative

Answer 3

it gives the food more flavor

Answer 4

i am an indian.. we just lobe the taste.. and its also soo healthy and prevents alzheimers

Answer 5

It depends on what foods and spices are around the countries they are originally from.  I was born in America, but my ancestors all descended from Mexico.  Recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation ll include spicy foods.  It's also not just Latinos and Asians.

Answer 6

I think there is a lot of people who love spicy things. It might be that the Hispanic and Asian cultures just like Insanity hot food!!!

Answer 7

Its not just Asian and Latin cultures.  

I know of a Somalian friend who eats a lot of pepper in at least one meal everyday.

And also my Jamaican/Guyanese family members + friends like hot food here and there too.

Answer 8

To be honest, traditionally a long long time ago people used any spices they could find to cover up the taste of "not so fresh" food...this was the reason (other than medical) spices and herbs were ever used in the first place. In japanese culture  wasabi and Ginger...both of which are Gastric Antiseptics...IE if eating not so fresh sushi it actually keeps you're system clean and kills toxins found in foods.  But now?  Well people just have a taste for it from years of eating spices

Answer 9

it is about where the people live. what is around the latin and asian continent are spicier spices for them to use. they are used as natural preserves.

e.g. korean people eat kimchi (slightly spicy) which uses red chili to help preserve it through the long winters of korea.

Answer 10

In humid and hot climes, the heat of those foods make one sweat and thus become cooler...or so they say...I personally do not get it...nothing but extreme airconditioning makes me cooler. LOL