Spicy to the max: 7 levels of "chili ice cream" to experience the thrill of a burning throat

Reported and photographed by reporter Tsai Wen-jun, Yilan

Sweet and cool ice cream brings relaxation and joy, but what about ice cream that burns all the way down your throat? Yeh's Aromatic Chili Cultural & Creative Hall in Jiaoxi, Yilan, has launched7 levels of "chili ice cream", with the hottest flavor made using the world’s hottest chili—giving you a real taste of that fiery thrill. Don’t claim to be a chili expert until you’ve tried this challenge.

▲ Yilan’s Yeh's Aromatic Chili Cultural & Creative Hall offers Taiwan’s only 7-level "chili ice cream."

▲ The making of chili ice cream. (Photo/Reported by Tsai Wen-jun)

▲ The 7 levels of "chili ice cream" are graded according to international standards.

▲ The world’s hottest chili—the Carolina Reaper.

Huang, deputy manager of Yeh's Aromatic Chili Cultural & Creative Hall, said the 7 spice levels of the chili ice cream are categorized based on the international Scoville Heat Scale. Any chili with a heat level over 1 million SHU is classified as level 7, such asthe shop’s hottest flavor, “Super Dog Nose Strawberry,” which uses the Carolina Reaper—the world’s hottest chili certified by Guinness World Records in 2014. The Carolina Reaper measures up to 2.2 million SHU, and when made into ice cream, the heat level is around 1.54 million SHU.

▲ Ice cream made with the world’s hottest Carolina Reaper chili—definitely worth a try.

▲ The non-spicy Dragon Blood ice cream.

Huang explained that the shop’s ice creams are mainly divided into 3 categories and 12 flavors, distinguished by different colored signs. For example, white represents the completely non-spicy Dragon Blood ice cream, blue signs denote levels 1 or 2 with mild spiciness, while black signs represent the hottest level 7.

▲ The mildly spicy ice cream also contains fruit chili peppers, giving a slight grainy texture.

Upon tasting, the mildly spicy ice cream doesn’t feel hot at first bite, but as you savor and swallow, the spice gradually builds like an afterburn, gently filling your mouth, along with a tangy sweetness from dried fruits. Huang noted that chili-flavored ice cream also includes fruit chili peppers, which provide those fruity, grainy notes.

▲ For medium-spice levels, the ice cream is combined with chili fruit jam, and even the decorative cookies are spicy.

As for how medium spice is achieved, Huang pointed out that for levels 2–6, customers can first choose their preferred ice cream flavor (excluding the hottest level), and based on their desired spice level, staff will drizzle the ice cream with the shop’s homemade chili fruit jam of varying intensity. This is paired with chili cookies, chocolate brownies, and more. The slight tang of the chili jam blends with the sweet ice cream, creating a uniquely complex flavor you won’t find elsewhere.

The reporter highly recommends that spice-loving travelers take on level 7—the hottest chili ice cream. It’s advised to start with just a third of a small spoonful, because even that tiny bite quickly delivers a searing heat from your mouth straight to the back of your throat, as if you could breathe fire. It’s an experience every spice fan must try at least once.

▲There’s also chili chocolate available in the same 7 spice levels.

Aside from chili ice cream, visitors to Yeh's Aromatic Chili Cultural & Creative Hall can also learn a lot of fun facts about chili. Huang shared that the owner founded the chili culture hall because many Taiwanese fear spicy food, yet chili isn’t scary—in fact, eating it in moderation is good for your health. By promoting it through fun items like chili ice cream and chili chocolate, the hope is to help people discover the joy of “spice.”

▲ The entrance design of Yeh's Aromatic Chili Cultural & Creative Hall.

Yeh's Aromatic Chili Cultural & Creative Hall
Address: No. 61, Section 5, Jiaoxi Road, Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County
Business hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM