China fish pond goes viral after feeding 5,000 kg of chillies to 2,000 fish to enhance their flavor

The pond, in Hunan Province, renowned for its spicy cuisine, spans about 10 acres and is home to over 2,000 fish, which are regularly fed a variety of chillies.

"At peak times, we feed the pond up to 5,000 kilos of chilli peppers each day. The same chillies people eat, mainly cone peppers and millet peppers, can be used as fish feed. After consuming them, the fish develop better body shapes, enhanced flavor, and even shiny, golden scales," said Kuang, the pond’s owner, in an interview with Jiupai News.

A photo shared on Chinese social media shows a fish pond in Changsha where its owner feeds chilli peppers to the fish.

Chillies are rich in vitamins and fish love them. Feeding chilli peppers to fish also enhances their intestinal health and boosts their resistance to stress, he told Changsha Evening News.

The chillies are sourced for free from local farmers, making them a cheaper and more convenient alternative to cultivating grass for fish feed, the South China Morning Post reported.

The pond has become a local attraction, drawing attention from tourists.

Kuang's story has generated a wave of humorous online comments.

"Feeding fish chili so they taste better? That's a hot take," a netizen wrote.

Another joked: "Fish are catching up with humans! In some places, even people cannot afford that much chilli."

"I wonder if it works," another questioned.

Hunan cuisine is famous for being spicy, bold, and aromatic. It's one of China's Eight Great Cuisines and uses fresh and dried chilies to create a unique hot and sour flavor profile that often includes ingredients like garlic and shallots.