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At a local festival in Antalya, southern Türkiye, a returning champion once again claimed first place after eating 474 grams of hot peppers in just three minutes, standing out in a contest that tested both endurance and tolerance for extreme heat.
The eating competition took place as part of the 27th agricultural and greenhouse festival in Kumluca, a coastal district known for its farming activity. A total of 39 participants, including three women, competed to consume as many hot peppers as possible within a strict three-minute limit.
Ahead of the contest, organizers handed out tomatoes and ayran, a traditional Turkish yogurt-based drink, to help reduce the peppers’ intensity. The peppers were carefully weighed using precision scales before being distributed to contestants, ensuring a fair and measurable outcome.
As the challenge got underway, participants struggled with the peppers’ spiciness, with several visibly affected as their eyes watered. Despite the difficulty, competitors pushed through the discomfort in an effort to reach the highest total weight consumed.
When the time was up, Celal Demir emerged as the winner, repeating his success from the previous year. He secured first place with 474 grams, followed by Yetkin Tuncer with 370 grams and Mehmet Yilmaz with 286 grams.
In the women’s category, Nazime Saltik claimed first place after eating 146 grams of hot peppers.
Local officials noted that the hot pepper eating contest has become closely associated with the festival and continues to attract increasing interest each year.
Speaking after his win, Demir emphasized his long-standing enthusiasm for the competition, saying: "I look forward to the hot pepper eating contest and take part every year. By winning again this year, I became champion for two consecutive years. I thank everyone who organized this event."
Saltik also highlighted her personal preference for spicy food, explaining that she regularly includes hot peppers in her meals.
At the conclusion of the event, top-performing contestants were presented with medals and gold awards by local officials, marking the end of one of the festival’s most anticipated and visually striking competitions.
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