'Heat seeker' wins chilli-eating contest at festival

Chris Morton, 48, from Pietermaritzburg, blazed his way to victory at the 2025 Chilli Pod Eating Contest – the sizzling showstopper of this year’s Great East Coast Chilli Festival.

Held at the Northwood Crusaders Sports Club in Durban North, the festival drew heat seekers from across the province, but it was Morton who emerged with the crown after enduring a record-breaking 14 rounds of blistering heat.

Morton’s win secured him the coveted championship belt, where his name will now be etched alongside previous chilli champions. A veteran of five chilli-eating contests, this marks his third victory – a title he says he worked hard to earn.

“This time, I had a good feeling from the start,” said Morton. “I had scoped out the competition and knew I had a strong chance. The vibe was fantastic, and I loved connecting with everyone there.”

A self-professed “heat seeker,” Morton’s chilli journey began in primary school at Cordwalles Preparatory School when he ate a Bird’s Eye Chilli on a dare. “It made me cry,” he laughed. But rather than being deterred, the experience ignited a lifelong passion for hot food – one nurtured by the Indian chef at his boarding school, who introduced him to the world of spicy cooking.

Morton now prepares meticulously for competitions, beginning his training three weeks in advance by gradually increasing the intensity of the chillis he consumes. “If you can’t handle a habanero without issues, you’ve got no business entering,” he advises. “I don’t eat spicy food all the time, so I have to build my tolerance methodically. It’s all about conditioning your body.”

When he’s not competing, Morton runs a micro-farm where he grows his own chillis. He’s currently developing a winter-resistant strain suited to climate change conditions and has big plans to launch his own line of chilli sauces for the global market.

With next year’s championship offering a cash prize, Morton has already set his sights on returning – not just to defend his title, but to fuel his fiery entrepreneurial dreams.