Some Danes like their chillis hot

But is it worth giving up the Ghost to avoid becoming one?

Chilli juice, chilli schnapps, chillis with the mother-in-law, Claus Pilgaard can’t get enough of the hot capsicum. The bearded Dane who goes by the name Chili Klaus has just released a book dedicated to his peppery indulgence, ‘Den er go´ i ørerne’ (It is good in the ears).

You’d think that tips on growing your own chillies would leave a Nordic country cold, but instead the comedian and self-proclaimed public figure has hit a picante nerve.

Millions tuning in
His Youtube channel boasts almost 3.5 million views. It would seem that people can't get enough of him eating spicy peppers with special guests since he started posting videos in 2006.

But if his Facebook page gives any clues, his actual target group is between 18-24 years old, and with 183,800 likes, it is no surprise that Chili Klaus managed to gather a thousand ballsy ones to Rådhuspladsen on June 5 to try a ‘Ghost Chili' (or Bhut Jolokia chilli if you're a connoisseur).

To put this beast into perspective, a common bell pepper registers at 0 on the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) scale, while a Tabasco pepper can reach a respectable 50,000. At over 1 million SHUs, however, a Ghost Chili is the (barely) edible equivalent of a thermonuclear bomb.

Klaus hasn't killed anyone yet
Luckily for Chili Klaus and his book-promotion, none of the participants detonated lethally (though many a meal came out the wrong way in the ensuing gastric agony).

Chilli peppers can cause death, according to Paul Bosland, a professor of horticulture at New Mexico State University who is the head of an organisation called the Chile Pepper Institute.

He cites a 1980 study that calculated that a person of average weight would need to eat just over 1.3kg of Bhut Jolokia chillies all at once to have a stab at death.

Smaller doses tend to cause tissue inflammation: a condition that expresses itself in what the contestants of the world's hottest chilli contest ‘Killer Curry’ describe as “chainsaws ripping through your insides”.

Two deaths in the last six years
However, an aspiring British chef died in 2008 after eating a "super hot" chilli sauce, and in 2013 an Australian man pronounced the words: “Jeez, this chilli pie is hot” at an eating contest  only to pass away shortly afterwards.

Watch this video for another reason not to eat a chilli willy-nilly.




  • The international who shaped Copenhagen

    The international who shaped Copenhagen

    Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

  • Danish government passes amendment to increase citizenship fee by 50%

    Danish government passes amendment to increase citizenship fee by 50%

    Fees were raised to reflect processing costs and curb repeat applications, creating debate over whether the new charges erect barriers to political participation for internationals.

  • Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    According to a report by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, internationals’ contribution is 12% of the country’s GDP. In 2023, it was 322 billion DKK, and in 2008, it was 136 billion DKK. “Internationals make a gigantic difference in our prosperity and welfare,” comments Morten Langager, the Director of Dansk Erhverv.

  • Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    With half of its staff being international, the BioInnovation Institute reflects Denmark’s broader transformation into a global innovation hub. But can the country—and Europe—keep up the pace? “If reforms are made now, we can close the gap in ten years,” explains BII’s CEO

  • Denmark launches massive investment in the navy

    Denmark launches massive investment in the navy

    Two months ago, the Danish PM announced that military equipment should be purchased in a hurry. The first plans for the sea are now ready. Additional plans for warships will follow this summer.

  • International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

    International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

    Many internationals come to Denmark to work as designers, but the field appears to be one of the hardest to break into. The Copenhagen Post spoke with two internationals struggling to find their way into the industry.

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.