Table of contents for September 2018 in The Simple Things

Kitchen BY IONA BOWER Too often described as ‘the heart of the home’, I’ve always thought of a kitchen as ‘the engine room’. Nowhere do I feel more capable than here, at the helm, Gardener’s Question Time chattering, kettle bubbling, and something lovely on the stove. There’s something about a buzzing kitchen, for sure. I once considered too many gadgets naff, but these days I get a warm glow from my breadmaker, coffee machine and juicer chugging happily. I recently reached peak smug when I purchased another freezer so I could whip out a pork ragu or a crumble at a moment’s notice for unexpected guests. (I may or may not drop this into conversation à la Hyacinth Bouquet: “I was just passing my second freezer, when…”) I’ve had teeny…

Why Quite simply, it’s a way of sharing what you’re interested in. Pick a subject that you’re passionate about. No matter how niche, you’ll likely find others as interested. The software Tinyletter is no frills and free (tinyletter.com), while Mailchimp (mailchimp.com) gives you more control about how your newsletter will look – it’s free for up to 2,000 subscribers. The timing Take it easy on yourself: don’t beat yourself up with a punishing publishing schedule. It’s meant to be a pleasure, not a chore. Have fun with it Enjoy the process of writing and finding your voice – and the response from readers. Writers say that it often results in a much deeper response than a simple “like”.…

620K caged hens have been rehomed by the British Hen Welfare Trust since it was established in 2005. The Devon-based charity, supported by more than 500 volunteers, finds ‘retirement homes’ for hens otherwise destined for slaughter. 2 Out of 35m flights in 2017, only two were involved in accidents with fatalities. The figure, based on research by aviation consultancy To70, means there was a fatal accident rate of just 0.000006% – a record low. 75% of Americans believe that immigration is good for their nation, new research by Gallup shows. It is the highest share of citizens to hold this view since 2001. Only 29% say immigration should be cut, the lowest share since 1965. *These articles have been written by our friends at Positive News, the quarterly…

Hearteningly, some of the railways that were culled in the 1960s have reopened for service, including the Scottish Borders Railway, which is the longest new domestic route constructed in the UK for more than a century. Plans to revive others include the Cambridge to Oxford ‘Varsity Line’, known as the East West Rail project, aimed at making it easier to travel across the country. Last year the Government invited the public to nominate old railway lines that should be reopened for service. Entirely new networks include Northern Powerhouse Rail, which will form a link between Newcastle, Sheffield, Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.…

The Bath House at Walton in Warwickshire is a slice of history, perfectly recreated by The Landmark Trust. Staying in their properties is not like at a National Trust cottage, where history is often limited to the information folder. Here it lives and breathes: a faithful restoration of a wealthy Georgian baronet’s pet project. Sir Charles Mordaunt wanted to keep up with modern notions of health by commissioning a bath house on his estate at Walton Hall; his wife, meanwhile, followed the 18th century fashion of shell collecting and arranging. The result is an unusual and stunning room – cleverly adapted for modern visitors – with the added attraction of a plunge pool in the basement. Where we stayed The entrance opens into an elegant octagonal room adorned with plaster…

Form quality means looking at handwriting holistically without drilling into the detail, making decisions about the overall ‘flow’ of the script. In making a judgment on form, we look at several factors including the following: Height Look for a good balance between the three zones. Is there tangling of lines? Does one zone hugely dominate the other? Spacing How is the spacing between the letters, words and lines? Does the writing look well planned without being too rigidly regular? Pressure Is there a natural and healthy pressure – neither agonisingly heavy or spidery light? Rhythm and speed A high form quality will not be so slow to look precise and not so fast that it looks neglected and illegible. Regularity Is the size of letters relatively the same throughout? What…

New jeans? Looking good! Ever thought about where they’ve been before your wardrobe? Such an apparently simple item of clothing has passed through a long chain: from their design to the production of their cotton, its treatment, their assembly, transport and storage. Truly, it’s a wonder of the modern world – and one of its major problems, with every stage being potentially ethically problematic, whether in how its workers are treated or use of resources or the pollution it causes. Even the jargon around ethical and sustainable fashion can be complicated – there’s no commonly agreed definition for either term, some definitions focussing on environmental factors, some on social and economic impacts, too. It’s such a huge issue, it can be hard to know where to begin. In fact, there…

BLUESIGN SYSTEM: is signed up to an independent auditing of textile mills. Those that commit to adopting Bluesign’s recommendations – on factors including use of non-toxic chemicals and output – can become certified System Partners and include the likes of Patagonia and North Face. FAIRTRADE MARK: reaches certain criteria on working conditions, living wages and workers’ rights. Companies can also have the mark Max Havelaar Fairtrade Certified Cotton, meaning that a percentage of the cotton in the garment or textile is organic. GLOBAL RECYCLED STANDARD (GRS): verified recycled content and the practices behind its production for any companies making or selling recycled fashion. FAIR WEAR FOUNDATION (FWF): signifies that a company is making efforts to improve labour conditions for garment workers, with 90% of its factories monitored. FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL…

Hydrangeas The mophead blooms of the hydrangea look as good in a vase as in the border. “They may not be the cheapest cut flowers,” says Ellie Marlow, florist at Catkin & Pussywillow, “but they work well either as statement arrangements or single stems in bud vases. As their name suggests, they are thirsty blooms and like a lot of hydration. Should they droop, dip the stem into boiling water for a minute. That will revive them.”…

A bulb lasagne is basically like a lasagne because it has layers. It’s a really brilliant way of planting bulbs in a pot. The smallest, earliest bulbs go on the top; then slightly bigger, later bulbs go underneath. The growth of the bottom layer hits the bulb above, curves around it and carries on. You can cram in a lot of different layers, and autumn is the ideal time to plant bulbs. Crocuses make a good top layer, then a scented narcissus such as ‘Pueblo’ below, and on the bottom, two tulips: ‘Orange Princess’ has a double form, and ‘Black Parrot’ is a glamorous, purple tulip. The crocuses will flower in February and March, the narcissus in April, then tulips in late April/May. As the foliage of one dies back,…

Pouring your morning coffee into a mug that fits your hand perfectly is a little moment of pleasure that sets you up nicely for the day ahead. The handle may be a little wonky and the glaze slightly patchy but that’s all part of the delight. And the reason this mug is such a bringer of happiness? Unlike other mugs sitting in the cupboard that are all exactly the same shape and printed with some generic design, this mug has been handmade. “Knowing who made your egg cup elevates it beyond the humdrum” Handmade things, whether they be ceramic tableware, woven blankets or hand-blown glass, have the power to make the everyday special. Knowing that one person created the bowl you eat your cornflakes from, or the teapot from which…

My eldest son has started pottery classes at school, which he enjoys and which is to be applauded, etc. However, I now have a shelf laden with misshapen bowls, approximately rendered plates and several lumpy things beyond description. I would rather replace these with lovely handmade ceramics made by proper craftspeople but I don’t want to upset him. How should I go about it? Answer in brief: select a single piece to display, then chuck the rest. Although the artistic soul is a sensitive thing and needs to be tended to carefully, you don’t want to give your son a false sense of his own genius if it’s not deserved. Does he, actually, show any real promise? If so, select one of his better pieces and display it prominently:…

“It first appeared on the backs of pioneering aviators and motorcylists” Perhaps it’s the fact that the leather jacket* was originally worn by the adventurous and the brave that makes it an enduring icon of cool. This is a garment that was conceived to withstand the elements, to be hard-working and practical. Unlike mimsy, fashion-led jackets, it didn’t make its debut paraded on the catwalk by wafer-thin models. It first appeared on the backs of pioneering aviators and motorcyclists. Little wonder then that it was later adopted by outsiders, rebels and punks. It is anti-fashion. It transcends whim. Its first manifestation was as a ‘bomber’ jacket worn by pilots during the First World War. Made from thick animal hide, tucked into the waist, and often lined with sheepskin, it protected…

Even if you don’t grow your own, you’re likely to come across a glut from time to time – from a friend’s allotment perhaps, in your weekly veg box, or at a stall at the farmers’ market. Finding varied ways to eat and store this seasonal bounty is satisfying to mind, appetite and pantry. Spend a few hours with your glut and make a dish to eat right away, another for the next day, and a little something for the larder as a future treat. This is the moment in the year when the veg patch becomes glamorous: the Mediterranean vegetables – peppers, chillies, aubergines, tomatoes – are here in force. In a good summer like this one, they can arrive a little earlier, but most years they’ll need plenty…

SILKEN PEAR CAKE 90g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for greasing 3 eggs 130g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla essence 35g plain flour, sifted 30g cornflour, sifted 1 tsp baking powder, sifted 3 ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into 2cm dice FOR THE CHANTILLY CREAM (OPTIONAL) 300ml whipping cream 30g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract or paste or essence 1 Preheat oven to 170C/Fan 150C/Gas 3. Grease the ring of a 24cm springform tin, then turn the base upside down, so it no longer has a lip. Place a piece of baking paper over it, then clamp the ring around it to secure. 2 Combine the eggs, caster sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl, and whisk with an electric mixer on high speed until…

*There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. Every month, we ask someone, clearly in love with their city, to take us on a personal tour and tell us what makes it so special. You may feel inspired to visit one day or to rediscover the charms of a city closer to you, but for now just sit back, relax and enjoy some vicarious travel. How long have you lived in Fez? I’ve lived here full-time for about three years, but I’ve been coming on a regular basis for almost a decade. Originally I’m from Pembrokeshire, but I’ve been an expat pretty much all my adult life. I started out in Copenhagen, then Puerto Rico, then Barcelona, where I…

Love Street The Doors North Marine Drive Ben Watt Thunder Road Bruce Springsteen Creeque Alley The Mamas & The Papas Montague Terrace (In Blue) Scott Walker Across 110th Street Bobby Womack 59 Lyndhurst Grove Pulp The Coldharbour Road Stornaway Positively 4th Street Bob Dylan Maid of Bond Street David Bowie Route 66 Chuck Berry On Broadway The Drifters Mornington Crescent Belle & Sebastian Tobacco Road The Nashville Teens Heartache Avenue The Maisonettes Soho Square Kirsty MacColl Warwick Avenue Duffy Portobello Road Cat Stevens Listen at thesimplethings.com/blog/streetsplaylist stop look listen Do you want to go where the streets have no name? Us neither.…

It’s always better to write on unlined paper to get a true indication of your writing style. Straight line – stable, controlled, dependable, likely to allow their head to rule their heart. Rigid line – if it looks like you have used an imaginary ruler, you like rigid order and structure. Ascending line – happy, optimistic and generally upbeat. Good at working in a team. Descending baseline – can indicate negativity and gloom. Maybe this writer isn’t feeling great about themselves or they’re not feeling well. Flexible baseline – most of us do this, especially when writing fast. It means we’re open to ideas and feeling excitable and energetic. Maybe the moods of this writer are a little unstable.…

An expert in anything was once beginner 1 The angled, methodical writing shows a critical and analytical person who prefers to know where they stand. Scrupulously honest, they have high expectations of other people as well as themselves. The upright slant and the overall regularity is indicative of someone who hides their real feelings and for this reason they may be difficult to get to know. They keep a cool head and are the ultimate planner. They can be sociable but are unlikely to put relationships ahead of work. 2 This is a speedy and original handwriting style. A good sense of humour is likely to make this person popular. They have leftward swinging and open lower zones, which indicates a caring and maternal side. They are better at understanding…

It’s been a while since we’ve asked you about The Simple Things. We’ve published the magazine for four years now and we’d love to know what you like (or don’t like) about it. Which covers and features you preferred and whether you buy every issue, or just now and again. We also want to know a little more about you, too, so we can make sure we’re publishing what you like to read. By taking part, you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win £200 of John Lewis vouchers. Just go to bit.ly/TSThello Thanks for your support From all at The Simple Things…

Thought, wearethought.com, specialises in high quality, easy to wear, natural organic fabrics (formerly Braintree Clothing). People Tree, peopletree.co.uk, works with Fairtrade producers, garment workers, artisans and farmers in the developing world. We love its design collaborations and its current V&A collection. EKO, earthkindoriginals.co.uk, based in Cornwall, makes good quality basics from vegan materials and prides itself on its relationships with the people who make its clothes. Howies, howies.co.uk, specialises in long-lasting t-shirts, sweatshirts and jeans made for getting out in the outdoors and respecting it too – as everything is made with as little impact as possible. Know the Origin, knowtheorigin.com, partners with producers in India that operate with fair trade and organic principles. See the ethical standards behind each item as you browse. Ninety…

ON DEMAND & CUSTOM MADE Encompassing made-to-order, tailormade, and DIY. Campaigners believe that the fashion industry should be more responsive to consumer demands, rather than make in bulk. Consumers can put this into practice, too. If we play a role in the production of our clothing, we’re more likely to look after it and hang onto it. Getting custom-made is an increasingly affordable option, thanks to the likes of Fox in a Glove, foxinaglove.com, offering modern styles made in Europe, and Brighton-based Dig For Victory, digforvictoryclothing.com, which specialises in vintage-inspired shapes. Clever sewers can make their own clothes. For fashionable patterns, try the Sewing Your Perfect Capsule Wardrobe project book by Arianna Cadwallader and Cathy McKinnon (Kyle Books), Sew Over It (sewoverit.co.uk) and Tilly and the Buttons (tillyandthebuttons.com). GREEN &…

“IT’S FRIENDLY HERE. PEOPLE ARE PROUD OF WHERE THEY LIVE AND INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY” “I’m pretty pleased with this corner of the English countryside we’ve found ourselves in,” says Nadia Izruna, creator of clothing store Nadinoo. “It’s peaceful and feels safe. Cities like London have too much of everything – they feel saturated. These days, I prefer a quieter, simpler life.” Nadia, husband James and their daughters Emi, two, and Lula, five, moved to a village in Rutland when James got a job in nearby Leicester. It was a welcome place to come to a halt following a peripatetic life, living in Libya (her father’s country of origin), Nuremburg (where she worked for Puma and where she met James), London and South Africa. The bustle of city life and…

After years of enjoying wild swimming holidays, both as a couple and a family, Sarah and Will Murch created a natural pool in their garden, Ellicar Gardens near Doncaster. Both horticulturists, they turned their passion into a business, and are now part of Ensata, a specialist pool building company ( ensata.co.uk ). The story so far Ten years ago, we were a family of seven, crammed into a three-bedroom house. We needed to move but had to stay local for Will’s business. When this plot came up, we literally went down the hill and moved in. The building was horrendous – it had been an institution for young offenders. It was all fire doors, locking systems and boxed-off rooms. The land surrounding it was a neglected field –…

MADE DESIGN AND CRAFT FAIRS Four different design and craft fairs run by artist couple Tutton & Young. Three in London, and one in Brighton. The next ones are a new tabletop show at St Mary’s church in Marylebone (30 November – 1 December) and in St Bartholomew’s church, Brighton (24 November). tuttonandyoung.co.uk CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FESTIVAL, BOVEY TRACEY Now in its 15th year, this Devon craft festival, held every June, aims to make craft part of everyday life. A wide range of exhibitors from all disciplines, plus workshops and demonstrations. craftsatboveytracey.co.uk GREAT NORTHERN CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FAIR A series of shows throughout the year held in Sheffield, Newcastle and Manchester. The next one, ‘the flagship show’, will be held on 11–14 October, at Upper Campfield Market, Manchester, with 150 designer-makers.greatnorthernevents.co.uk MADE…

Virgo 23 August – 22 September ★“If you’re not happy at home, you’re not happy anywhere else,” said actress, Angie Harmon. Your domestic life may have been a theme for some time now, from your home to your family ties. This year is likely to have seen a lessening of difficulties but the real turning point comes in November when a much happier phase begins. Why is this important? Because the more happy and secure you feel in your foundations, the more able you’ll be to go out into the world and shine your light. This autumn is about new beginnings after which you’ll find it easier to make progress. October is the month to take stock and decide what you want Libra 23 September – 23 October ★“Life shrinks…

Buying more organic food means more organic farms, with fewer pesticides, more wildlife and no GM. Let Organic September inspire you to introduce change; soilassociation.org PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP Who hasn’t felt sad at being too old for a bouncy castle? Event organisers Gung-Ho! have come to the rescue with an inflatable 5k obstacle course that’s so much fun you’ll forget you’re even exercising. Find out when it’s in your area at begung-ho.co.uk. “Any fool can know. The point is to understand”Albert Einstein BOOTS ON The Yorkshire Wolds Walking & Outdoors Festival offers keen ramblers the chance to walk the length of the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds Way with an experienced guide, but there are plenty of shorter options, too, including city strolls and the ‘Boots & Beer’ walk.…

More email? Groan. If you spend your work days battling it, the thought of signing up for more will likely fill you with dread. However, it’s different if you brighten up your inbox with things you actually want to read. Our favourite newsletters provide a window onto personal passions, feelings and thoughts, like a well crafted letter from a friend. As Susannah Otter, author of the Otter’s Jotter newsletter (tinyletter.com/OttersJotter) says, they “take you somewhere else and make you think slightly differently”. Or, as author Sophie Mackintosh, who pens Gastro del Solo (tinyletter.com/gastrodelsolo) puts it, “The magical thing about them is they are these small nuggets of beauty in your inbox, an essay that feels like a present written just for you.” Here are a few hand-picked favourites, spanning books,…

What’s a typical morning for you? I get up, have a bowl of cereal – Shreddies or Weetabix – a glass of OJ and my vitamin and cholesterol pills, and then cycle from my home near Victoria in London to my studio in Bethnal Green. I aim to arrive about nine o’clock. You must need a cuppa after that, surely? After I’ve showered and changed out of my cycling clothes, I’ll have my first coffee of the day. If I’m first to arrive, I’ll make it, but otherwise someone will kindly make it for me. Are you particular about how it’s made? Not at all! How hard is it to put a teaspoon of instant coffee into a mug with some boiling water and milk? I’m not fussy about mugs,…

Prison parkruns The parkrun fitness phenomenon has now arrived in five prisons across the UK. The free 5km events are organised by volunteers. John McAvoy, an armed robber turned Ironman triathlete, says: “I was labelled one of the most dangerous prisoners in the country. If I can change my life through sport, why shouldn’t the other 90,000 UK prisoners be given that chance too?” HIV progress Young people who are taking the latest HIV drugs have a near-normal life expectancy as a result of improvements in treatments, a study suggests. Doctors writing in The Lancet medical journal report that 20-year-olds who started antiretroviral therapy in 2010 are projected to live 10 years longer than those first treated in 1996. Newer HIV drugs also have fewer side effects. Sexual rights For many girls…

Favourite café/bar CAFÉ CLOCK Serves the best coffee in town.cafeclock.com HOTEL SAHRAI Its rooftop bar is good for after-work drinks and to take in a bit of contemporary Fez.hotelsahrai.com Favourite restaurants JARDIN DES BIEHN Get a table on the verandah overlooking their glorious gardens, and have John Dory in chermoula sauce.jardindesbiehn.com DAR ROUMANA In winter I book a table in the chimney lounge for its real log fire and comforting Franco-Moroccan dishes such as local duck with souk-spiced cabbage.darroumana.com Favourite market Head to the Achabine street food souks, for bessara (broad bean soup), fried sardines, and a kefta stuffed into warm khobz (the local daily bread). Favourite hotels RIAD LAAROUSSA Start the day with coffee in the orange tree courtyard, zip out into the souks then spend the afternoon chilling…

Some former routes have been restored for use as heritage lines, offering passengers the chance to enjoy the full sensory experience of steam: the smoky scent in the air, the magical chuff-chuff of acceleration and the occasional tuneful whistle. They include: The Bluebell Railway Climb aboard splendid steam trains with romantic names such as the Sussex Belle and Golden Arrow running between East Grinstead and Sheffield Park in East Sussex; bluebell-railway.com. North York Moors Railway Admire the North York Moors National Park from the steam trains on this not-for-profit, volunteer-led railway, which is fast approaching its 200th birthday – don’t miss Goathland, famous for playing fictitious stations including Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade, as well as a turn in 1990s TV show Heartbeat; nymr.co.uk. Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Indulge in afternoon…

What If This Road  Sheenagh Pugh What if this road, that has held no surprises these many years, decided not to go home after all; what if it could turn left or right with no more ado than a kite-tail? What if its tarry skin were like a long, supple bolt of cloth, that is shaken and rolled out, and takes a new shape from the contours beneath? And if it chose to lay itself down in a new way; around a blind corner, across hills you must climb without knowing what’s on the other side; who would not hanker to be going, at all risks? Who wants to know a story’s end, or where a road will go? About the author Reprinted here with kind permission from the author, ‘What…

In handwriting, the letters of the alphabet span across three zones: the upper, middle and lower zone. Each zone has a different meaning and represents different psychological aspects of our personality. We can equate the three zones to the three sections of the human body: the head, the trunk and the legs. When you look at your own writing, it’s likely you’ll notice that your zones aren’t even. Try writing out this sentence that includes all letters of the alphabet. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog The upper zone Intellectual and spiritual matters The letters that stand tall such as ‘l’ and ‘t’ reflect our mental perceptions. All our intellectual and cultural aspirations are represented here as well as our fantasy world, spiritual and philosophical beliefs. Emphasis…

We all share an ability to ignore the obvious in life, for not recognising what is quiet and good. Silence is so obvious, so available and so everyday. Most of the time we don’t recognise its value or even bother to name it, yet it’s where peace, creativity, self-knowledge, inner strength and even power come from. As the heat and business of summer make way for the quiet and order of autumn, now is the time to reclaim silence – those times when you can block out the noisy world and just pause. It might be the moment when you sit down with a cup of tea after the children have gone to school. Or while standing in the shower with water pouring over your head. A night-time walk or…

For Cavendish Pianos, getting ebony and ivory to live together in perfect harmony is no overnight job. The instruments need up to 20,000 parts and the deft attention of everyone from string maker to action builder, metal driller to cabinet maker. Start building on New Year’s Day and it might be completed in time for a rendition of ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’. In short, you don’t go into piano making to make a fast buck. More probably you go in like Adam Cox, a man entranced by the instrument “because it’s made out of wood and metal and wool and leather, and it’s alchemy – if you put those things together in the right way, you make something that sings.” Adam’s earliest memory is his family buying a piano. He’d…

Britain’s smallest county – it’s only 20 miles across – is big on the pleasing things in life. It has pretty rolling countryside with Rutland Water, ‘England’s largest man-made lake’, at its centre; two historic market towns – Oakham and Uppingham – brimming with honey-coloured buildings and independent shops; and an annual Birdfair festival, the ‘birdwatcher’s Glastonbury’. Its size and modesty means that it is often overlooked, and feels secret and tucked-away – another pleasing thing to add to the list.…

By creating diverse habitats on their plot, including the natural pool, Sarah and Will turned a patch infested with bramble thickets into a haven for wildlife. These are some of the creatures that now call it their home. Birds: starlings, numerous sparrows, swallows, goldfinches and thrushes fly in, as well as some lesser-seen species such as kingfisher, oystercatchers and reed warblers. Starlings arrive en masse to bathe in the pond in winter. Tawny owls, kestrels and buzzards also visit. Amphibians: areas of longer grass attract frogs and toads, who also hop into the pond. Mammals: voles find shelter in the long grass. Insects: nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Rotting log piles and bug hotels attract insects and birds. Damselflies and dragonflies hover over the pond.…

1 MAKE If you are bursting with enthusiasm to make something for the home yourself, a lampshade is a good place to start. Not only could it save you some cash, you could make one that matches your curtains. The easiest way to do it is with a lampshade making kit. There’s a fine choice at dannells.com, including a 15cm drum lampshade kit, £7.08. It comes with an adhesive flameproof PVC panel which you can attach to fabric of your choice or customise according to your whim. 2 BUY The variety of lampshades made by designer makers available online means there is no excuse for boring light coverings. Joanna Corney of Lume (lumelighting.co.uk) makes lampshades in her Hove studio, including the immensely covetable Emerald Traditional shade, £110 (above) – a…

Biquinho Means “little beak” in Portuguese. Early birds get the benefit of this one – in Brazil, the pickled pods are served as an appetiser. Kashmiri Mirch Native to the northernmost state of India, this famously bright crimson number peps up tandoori dishes and rogan josh. Peruvian White Lightning Ripens to an innocent looking white, but packs a potent heat. Might indeed feel like you’d been struck by lightning. Chilhuacle Amarillo Holy mole! This rare Mexican chilli is the essential ingredient in the famous mole sauces of Oaxacan cooking. Pulla Another Mexican star. When looking to add a fruity flavour to sauces, stews and soups, simply pull a pulla and purée. Naga Viper Once the world’s hottest, (270 times hotter than a jalapeño). AKA ‘The Terminator’; after eating you’re unlikely…