|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| Chilli man |
| Reg discovers some hot stuff. |
|
|
|
|
Australia is the biggest grower and consumer of chillies in the world. So it's not surprising "The Chilli Man" has grown so successful in four years, that it's now exporting to more than 60 countries. Australian owned and managed by 'Chilli Man' Brett Elphinstone, Reg visits this mini industry in Muswellbrook.
Brett and wife Tracey read about the growth potential in the chilli market and decided to take up the challenge. Having worked on and off as a chef throughout his career, Brett set about concocting recipes for Hot Aussie sauce, Chilli Chutney, Chilli Pickles and Chilli Juice. After a few weeks of trials, they tested their products at the Singleton Trade Fair and within two days had sold out of their stock and collected $2500. Knowing they were on to something they sought approval for training and funding through the NEIS Business scheme and haven't looked back.
From a small set up in their own kitchen, working around their three young children, Brett and Tracey now operate out of a commercial kitchen at their new factory. Originally called "the Hunter Valley Chilli company", they changed the name after most callers asked for "the chilli man". They operate primarily through the Cheese Factory at McGuigan Bros winery and their website, and have clients as large as David Jones.
Expanding all the time, their products under trial include Chilli flavoured corn and potato chips to add to their extensive range. Kangaroo Kick Habanero sauce is a current favourite as well as Date & Chilli Chutney, Chilli Hot Rocks, Crazy Koala Salsa, Wild Wombat Smoked Sauce, Tomato Chilli Sauce, Indian Sauce and Thai Chutney.
'The Chilli Woman' range is also out soon. Overseen by Tracey, it's a range of oils, vinegars and spices with plans to include jams, marmalades, relishes, mustards, spreads, dips, chocolates, clothing and memorabilia as well as a "Chilli Kids" line later in the year.
Brett attributes the success of 'The Chilli Man' to their unique cooking process, a combination of old style Indian and Thai with a set ratio of timing, temperature and ingredients to allow the flavour to appear first then the sting. The chilli sauce is cooked in two 80L pots each yielding approximately 300 standard measures of sauce, allowing them to churn out as many as 2,500 retail ready bottles a day. They do a cooking cycle about once a month which lasts a week and produces around 9000 bottles.
Chilli History and Trivia
Wild chilli peppers were thought to have been eaten in Mexico from as early as 7000 BC and by 5000 BC they were being cultivated.
In South America, chilli peppers have been grown since at least 2500 BC — there was an enormous range of colours, shapes, taste and heat. They were also used a type of currency
Christopher Columbus discovered chillies in the Caribbean in 1492 and misnamed them peppers, believing them to be related to the plant which produces black pepper.
Health facts
Fresh Chillies are high in Vitamin C — twice the amount found in citrus fruits. When dried the Vitamin A content increases as much as one hundred fold. Hot chillies e.g. 'Habanero' contain 357% more Vitamin C than an orange. Red chillies are a good source of beta carotene.
The bite in chilli is called Capsaicin. The burning feeling that you are left with on your tongue is caused by the relief of Capsaicin. This causes messages to be sent to your brain to release endorphins which are your body's natural pain killer. The endorphins then give you the feeling of relief and pleasure.
Chilli is mildly antibacterial and is an excellent gargle for sore throats and laryngitis. In Victorian England, chilli peppers were prized for their warming properties in treating arthritis, chills, rheumatism, sprains and depression.
Chillies have been used to repel garden pests, to stop barnacles on boats, as an aphrodisiac and as a cure for sore throats and varicose ulcers.
Chilli antidotes include any dairy product, milk, ice cream, yogurt, chocolate, sugar, starchy foods like bread.
|
More Info
The Chilli Man
Unit 2, Lot 234 Industrial Close
Muswellbrook
PH: 02 6541 2771
M: 0417 685 726
www.thechilliman.com.au
|
Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
|
|
|
|
|
