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Carrazco, Cabrera are Tinian hot pepper eating champs
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Posted on Feb 16 2021
TINIAN—Ricardo Carrazco, a 25-year-old U.S. Navy Seabee, and Jessica Cabrera are the 17th Tinian Pika Fest hot pepper eating champions.
Carrazco, who is from Nebraska, he said he actually started eating hot peppers since he was young. “I was always known for eating spicy things, I would eat ghost pepper, Carolina reapers, then I got to Tinian and I tried the donne sali pepper, and it was hotter than what I’ve tried before,” he added.
When asked how he prepared himself for the contest, he said ate some donne sali peppers a few days before the contest.
Carrazco, who arrived on Tinian about three weeks ago with the other Seabees, said he was excited to be here in time for the Pika Festival because it’s so much fun. He added that he does construction work for the U.S. Department of Defense as part of his daily work on Tinian.
From left Priscilla Iakopo, the Marianas Visitors Authority managing director, the 17th Annual Hot Pepper “Pika” Festival hot pepper challenger winner Ricardo Carrazco and MVA’s Community Projects manager Martin F. Dueñas pose after Carrazco placed first in the hot pepper challenge at the Pika Festival last Feb. 13. (JUSTINE NAUTA)
On Saturday, Carrazco bested 11 other male contestants for the coveted Pika King title. Each participant had to chew 100 donne sali hot peppers one at a time. Placing second was Gen Song while Kirk Johns finished third.
The men’s category was held on Feb. 13, and the women’s category was held on Feb. 14.
Cabrera, who won first place in the women’s category, placed first out of five competitors.
Winners received cash prizes from the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Tinian Office of the Mayor, and the 18th Tinian Municipal Council.
The Tinian’s Hot Pepper “Pika” Festival is dedicated to Tinian’s potent donne sali hot pepper.
In her remarks, MVA managing director Priscilla Iakopo said that it is because of the compliance of the community that MVA was able to host this annual event.
“It’s truly the respect and care for others and keeping our communities safe that has helped make this weekend festival possible,” she said.
Social distancing protocols were strictly implemented at the festival grounds, and these included temperature checks and hand-washing areas.
