Beyond the Burn: Welcome to Complex Heat

Hi, I’m Gerald Zhang-Schmidt, and I believe that heat is an ingredient, not a punishment.

Complex Heat is a resource for curious cooks who want to move beyond the burn and master the art of spicy food. If you believe that the world’s most exciting flavors are found in chiles, spices, and ferments, you’ve come to the right place.

This is where we learn not just how to cook with heat, but how to understand it, control it, and pair it to create deep, memorable, and yes, complex flavors.

My Journey Through Heat

For years, I’ve been chasing chiles around the world. My fascination started with the simple question so many have pondered: Why do some like it hot?

That question led me down a rabbit hole. I started my first website, the original chilicult.com, to document my explorations into the world of Capsicums. This journey deepened as I launched the Heat Stories podcast, where I began to uncover the incredible history and culture behind the world’s most potent ingredients.

My research culminated in my book, Red Hot China, a deep dive into the surprisingly recent and explosive love affair between China and the chile pepper.

Through all of this—the research, the travels, the hundreds of recipes tested—I’ve learned one fundamental truth: the world’s most exciting food isn’t just about heat; it’s about the complexity that heat unlocks. complexheat.com is the culmination of that journey, and I’m thrilled to share what I’ve learned with you.

What You’ll Find on Complex Heat

This site is designed to be your trusted guide. Here’s what you can expect:

• Recipes That Work: From deeply researched traditional dishes to modern creations, every recipe here is tested with the home cook in mind. (I myself am still just a home cook, time-pressed now as a father of two.)
• Ingredient Deep Dives: We go beyond the surface to explore the nuances of specific chiles and essential spices.
• Pro Techniques: Learn the “why” behind the “what.” We cover core skills that will fundamentally change how you cook, and certainly how you eat with complex heat.
• Honest Reviews: No-nonsense reviews of hot sauces, cookbooks, and equipment to help you stock your pantry and kitchen.

Thank you for being here. Now, let’s get cooking.

To great flavor,

Gerald