WATCH: Charlie takes the heat to win 10k
The festival was aimed at bringing the chilli community together.
Nelson Charlie (48) from Eveleigh won R10 000 after triumphing in a chilli pod eating competition at Heckers Garden Centre during the Chilli Festival, on April 5 and 6.
The contest saw participants tackle a range of fiery chillies, including green and red jalapeños, green serranos, Thai chillies, yellow and red habaneros, yellow Moruga scorpions, chocolate Bhutlahs, magma reapers and Carolina reapers.
After about 18 intense rounds, the competition on April 6 boiled down to a sudden death face-off between last year’s champion, Ernest Salzwedel, and Charlie.
Despite Salzwedel’s calm demeanor throughout the event, Charlie emerged victorious, finishing the final chillies first.
He expressed his excitement after the win, saying: “It was a tough competition, but I wanted to win, so I pushed through. The sudden death round was the hardest part of the competition for me.”
Charlie said he is going to enjoy his winnings with his family.
According to Anton Botha from Hotty Peno, one of the organisers, the aim of the festival was to unite the chilli community.
Botha praised the event as a resounding success, especially considering the rainy weather.
“People came in their numbers to support the event. I would like to thank the sponsors and Heckers for making the festival possible.”
The next Chilli Festival is set to take place at Heckers on November 1 and 2.
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