Finally, our addiction to Sriracha is explained… With science. The Chemistry of Sriracha, by The American Chemical Society, not only explains why the hot chili sauce beckons us like an irresistible sea nymph — but also how Sriracha is able to retain its hypnotic red color for so long.
The culprits are actually a combination of endorphin-releasing capsaicinoids and color-retaining preservatives. Just the very mention of Sriracha leads to enormous traffic spikes on food culture sites such as this one. And, you can’t argue with science.
