Dave DeWitt is a food historian and one of the foremost authorities in the world on chile peppers, spices, and spicy foods. He has published more than fifty books, including Precious Cargo: How Foods from the Americas Changed the World, which won the IACP Award for Best Culinary History. DeWitt is also the producer of the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as the founder of the Scovie Awards, which recognize the best fiery foods and barbecue products in the world.

DeWitt's magnum opus book of the spiciest proportions.- Alex De Vore, Santa Fe Reporter;""Fascinating, very informative, and a delight to read. I wanted to rush to the kitchen to try all the recipes, too.""- Sharon Hudgins, author of T-Bone Whacks and Caviar Snacks: Cooking with Two Texans in Siberia and the Russian Far East