Ok - I know this has been an ongoing argument - Why does it seem that Equatorial cultures use spicy foods more than the Glacial Europeans (As my husband is prone to call that ilk) Here's a hypothesis I have not yet seen in print (maybe there's a reason for that, maybe not) I once read that the Inuit (Eskimoes) don't sweat as readily as most people. The reason being that to sweat could be deadly if you cool down later - then the moisture would contribute to hypothermia. So maybe the northern cultures didn't take to hot foods because it would cause them to sweat and while schussing home (that's a form of skiiing) they could freeze to death. Signe Knutson "Yes I'm a Norskie" Shivers