Chilli is one of the most commonly used spices in the world. Whole chillies should be soaked in boiling water for about 15 minutes to soften before using. Chilli has an affinity with chocolate dating back to the Aztecs and Mayans of Central America. It is regarded the Mayans concocted a frothy hot chocolate flavoured with chilli and vanilla. In small amounts the heat of the chilli helps cut through the richness of dark chocolate. On a scale of 1 to 10 ground chilli has a heat rating of 7 (seven).