For some, the mere mention of the approaching Chilli Festival at Frosts Garden Centre will cause them to break into a sweat.
The sixth annual 'hottie on the calendar' returns to the Woburn Garden emporium this weekend, with three days of not-so-chilly chilli fun beginning on Saturday (August 29).
Organisers promise this year's event will be the biggest and best so far, with more 30 exhibitors, live music and salsa lessons all on the menu.
Those who think they can stand the heat are invited to step up and partake in the chilli eating competition, which will run across Saturday and Sunday, before the Grand Final seeks out the chap or chappess with the strongest palate!
Participants will face 10 chilli's in all, each one hotter than the last.
Forget mouth-watering, we envisage heat rising during the challenge.
Perhaps your talent lies in working with the peppers as opposed to eating them in contests.
Reckon you make a killer chutney, a perfect pickle or a sensational sauce?
Take along your best homemade creations – a panel of judges will be seeking out the best chilli sauce in Bucks.
This hot stuff makes for thirsty work, and if you fancy a drink, you simply must sample the chilli beer commissioned for the weekend and developed courtesy of the Concrete Cow brewery.
Needless to say, not all the chilli's will be fiery, and there will be gentle examples on offer too.
Daily, the garden centre will host a Mexican fancy dress competition, so give it your best shot, but understand that a Scotch Bonnet is most definitely not to be worn on the head.
Or anywhere else for that matter...
“We are so excited to be hosting out sixth annual Chilli Festival,” Frosts managing director James Frost said.
“Every year it has grown and it's brilliant to see that it has become part of everyone’s calendar for the August bank holiday weekend.
“We have some sizzling entertainment and lots of exhibitors with mouth-watering – and possible eye watering – delicacies.”
More than 6000 attended the event last year, and if you want to help swell that figure in 2015, entry is £3 per person – everyone will receive a free packet of chilli seeds.
Under 16s and Gardening Club members go free, and if you keep your wristband on, paying visitors can return daily free of charge.
