Chili peppers, or in other words “Capsicum annuum”, is Christopher Columbus' second most important discovery after America. When the famous sailor reached the Caribbean in 1492, he found surprisingly spicy food there, which he called chilli peppers and took with him to Europe. Interestingly, Columbus dreamt of finding a new source of black pepper ("pimienta" in Spanish), a very valuable product in those times, so he called chilli "pimiento" in the act of desperation.
However, historical sources indicate that chilli pepper was part of the diet of the Central American population as early as 5000 B.C. The Aztec and Maya people used them not only as a spice, but also for treatment and as a means of disinfecting their homes.
With the geographical conquests, chilli peppers became part of international cuisine. People of India, who got used to the spiciness of their curry blends, also fall in love with the taste of chilli. The Portuguese colonization brought red peppers also to Indonesia, where even today it is an important part of their menu. Moreover, even in Japan, samurai fighters learned to eat chili peppers before skirmishes, believing that it gives them invincibility.
As you can see, the career of chili peppers has been spectacular, and as a result, the largest chili pepper crops outside of Mexico are now found in China, Spain, Nigeria and Turkey.
Chilli pepper owes its exceptional spiciness to capsaicin - an alkaloid presents not only in the seeds themselves but also in the inner membrane of the fruit. Interestingly, only mammals feel this spicy taste - birds are completely insensitive to capsaicin.
To determine the intensity of chilli, a special scale was developed in units called SHU ("Scoville heat units"). Zero level indicate the sweet taste of plain peppers.
SHU consider such sensory aspects as the location of the burning sensation, its length, speed rate, hotness and intensity of taste.
Not everyone realizes that there are many other peppers under the common concept of chili.
Among the most famous belongs:
Jalapeno - especially popular in Mexico, a medium sized, spicy pepper, used in fresh and tinned form (3,500 - 8,000 SHU).
Cayenne - most often associated with the name "chili”, moderately spicy peppers with an elongated, pointed shape. Available especially in a ground form called cayenne pepper (30,000 - 50,000 SHU) - my favorite.
Tabasco - a one-year-old pepper used to produce the famous Tabasco sauce (30,000 - 50,000 SHU).
Habanero - most often orange, rounded peppers originally from the Amazon Jungle (100,000 - 350,000 SHU).
Naked Jolokia - Habanero variety, grown mainly in India (1,200,000 - 1,400,000 SHU).
Trinidad Scorpion Buch T - it's also a Habanero variety, bred in Australia and considered to be the spiciest pepper in the world! (1,463,700 SHU).
Researchers at Nottingham University have proven that capsaicin stimulates cancer cells to self-destruct by attacking the mitochondria of the cancer cells responsible for generating energy in them. Scientists managed to confirm that it has a positive effect in the treatment of cancers such as lungs, colon, prostate and glioma.
Capsaicin is also helpful with Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Helicobacter pylori, responsible for gastric and duodenal ulcers.
But if you are not a fan of spicy cuisine and have ever wondered "how to put out that fire in your mouth"? I certainly don't recommend using water for this because the alkaloid (responsible for the spicy taste) will not dissolve in it. A better solution is to drink a glass of oily milk or yoghurt (casein protein breaks down the connections between capsaicin and pain receptors).
A relief can also bring to eat an ice cream, drink tomato or citrus fruit juice - preferably very acidic ones.
Some people advise to combine spices dishes with rice or bread. In many Asian countries, spicy delicacies are drunk with hot tea and in the United States they are served with thick cream.
Sources:
Questions:
1) Do you like spicy dishes? If yes, write about your favorite one.
2) Have you ever tried chili? If yes, try to describe what kind of chili it was.
3) Have you been aware how healthy chili peppers can be? Maybe you know some other tasty and healthy spices.
Comments
1. Yes, I really like spicy foods. I eat them very often and my favorite food is Thai. My favorite dish is Chicken with Thai Basil (Pad Kra Pao Gai).
2. Of course I have tried and eaten chili. I believe that classic chili is the best.
3. Yes, I am aware that spicy chillies and dishes are generally healthy for us. For example, they cause faster and better metabolism.
2.So many times. I have tried many kinds of chillies, a long time to mention. I even used to grow my chillies in a pot on the windowsill. Fresh chillies are something.
3.Yes of course. Spicy food is very good for the respiratory system. When someone has problems with sinuses, chillies or even spicier dishes are the best choice. The only downside is that such a hot pepper has a negative effect on the cereal. It very often causes acne in people who have sensitive skin.
2.So many times. I have tried many kinds of chillies, a long time to mention. I even used to grow my chillies in a pot on the windowsill. Fresh chillies are something.
3.Yes of course. Spicy food is very good for the respiratory system. When someone has problems with sinuses, chillies or even spicier dishes are the best choice. The only downside is that such a hot pepper has a negative effect on the cereal. It very often causes acne in people who have sensitive skin.
2. Many times. I'm not an expert but I believe it was a classic chili and Jalapeno.
3. I knew in general that spices are healthy, but I wasn't aware of chili benefits. It's quite amazing that this small vegetable has a positive effect on cancer treatment.
2. Honestly speaking, I add chilies to my meals a lot. Is it scrambled eggs or a regular pork chop. These are, of course, small amounts, otherwise I could make my stomach feel very bad.
3. I don't believe they are healthy for us and I don't believe these articles. I believe that spicy food that is not absorbed by the body and has various reactions in it will lead to undesirable effects.
2. I usually add green and red chili to my food if i really want some spicy food otherwise i don't always eat it because i feel bad and it becomes hard to breath after eating much of it.
3. I don't know anything of peppers being useful but i guess there are more bad effects than good ones because i heard that it may lead to stomach inflammation if consumed much.
Ofcourse, the root of my food is chilli. I will eat all sorts of chili, no matter how hot it is, I'm used to with it. Either the Red Chilli or the Green Chilli, the Little Chilli or the Huge Chilli. Then it emits a spicy scent even though you chop or smash it. Capsicum is also pepper, but it is absolutely distinct from chili.
I don't have much knowledge but I know that chilli may reduce risk of cancer. With their hot flavor, chili peppers are famous for their ability to enhance the taste of any meal. However, there is more to chili peppers than just a little bit of fire. As a seasoning, chili peppers are often used and can be fried or powdered and dried.
I tried many kinds of chilli and chilli sauces. Each pepper is different, so each chilli has a slightly different taste and a different spice. Sometimes eating chilli caused me feel such a burning sensation in my mouth that even a few glasses of milk did not improve the situation, and sometimes I did not feel even great spiciness.
I do not think that chilli is healthy. The myth that it speeds up metabolism has been disproved. Unless you eat a very hot pepper without being used to it, you will unfortunately spend many unpleasant hours in the toilet. Spicy spices are popular in countries where it is warm, because in times when there were no fridges, the food quickly started to spoil and the chilli killed the taste.
2. I have not and I truly don’t want to try. I can live without such experience in my life.
3. I haven’t. Chilli peppers still seem quite extreme for me and I wouldn’t try it.
I enjoy eating semi-spicy meals, but quite often they appear as a big challenge for my stomach which makes me think of it meal all day. So, mostly I prefer soft dishes.
2) Have you ever tried chili? If yes, try to describe what kind of chili it was.
Sure, I have tried a few and of course I don't know the names. I bet one of them was Jalapenio, because they oftent add it to pizza and the second one is classic red chili. The spiciest chili that I have ever tried was in Thailand, it was added to coconut milk soup. It was quite painful because, I did not know these mouth-fire fighting technique back then, so it made a very memorable recollection.
3) Have you been aware how healthy chili peppers can be? Maybe you know some other tasty and healthy spices.
I knew about the peppers. Turmeric is an ancient Indian spice, medicinal herb and food dye in the ginger family.
As I mentioned before, I enjoy different kinds of chilli often, but I'm also eager to try new tastes whenever I can. The one kind that I use the most is a Korean chilli paste called Gochujang, which enriches every dish with just a small amount. I also often use Harissa, which commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine. It's more condensed than Gochujang and is more appropriate for dishes like Shakshuka and so on. When it comes to an actual kind of chilli pepper, I tried Jalapeno for making tacos and burritos.
I was aware of some health benefits from eating spicy foods, but I was surprised to hear about the positive effects when it comes to cancer treatment. My favourite ingredients that are often recommended when you have a cold is definitely garlic and ginger. They're said to be good for boosting your immune system.
Unfortunately I do not like spicy dishes, they are not my favourite types of meals.
Yes of course I have tried chilli. One time I had chance to try Aji Limi Chili Peppers, and they very really spicy. Eating them without some preparation would be really hard (for example some milk or something to drink and decrease spiciness).
Unfortuantely not. I have always thought that spicy dishes are quite unhealthly especially raw chilli. But now after reading your article and research I'm suprised how many positive effects they have!
Yes, I like spicy dishes. My favorite is pizza with jalapeno.
2) Have you ever tried chili? If yes, try to describe what kind of chili it was.
I don't know much about chili types. My favorite pepper is jalapeno. I like to add it to pizza and toast.
3) Have you been aware how healthy chili peppers can be? Maybe you know some other tasty and healthy
Yes, I knew before reading this article that chill peppers can be healthy for people
The dish you mentioned; Thai Basil (Pad Kra Pao Gai). I must admit that it looks very tasty and I will certainly try it when I have the opportunity.
Yes, I definitely think so too - the more spicy something is, the better.
Wow, that's cool, maybe in the future I will try to grow my own peppers myself.
Yes, I used to add a lot of tabasco to my dishes, but now I definitely prefer to add cayenne chilli - it is the chilli cayenne that makes the dishes taste amazing
It is true, unfortunately sometimes too spicy food causes stomach problems. In my case, fortunately, I would have to eat huge amounts of chilli to make my belly feel it.
I definitely think so too! No matter how hot the chilli is, I'll eat it anyway.
Of course, this is understandable, many people like to eat spicy food, but not one that is too spicy. Some people think it can spoil the taste of the whole dish because they feel nothing except chilli.
Don't worry! Everyone can love spicy taste in their own way. I believe that everyone has their own scale of piquancy.
Yes, I like spicy dishes. Generally, i don't have one favourite dish, so i can't choose one. I like mexican, thai, even hindu food. I would say, that i eat spicy kebab often, im not sure why, but spicy sauce suits and tastes here incredibly.
2) Have you ever tried chili? If yes, try to describe what kind of chili it was.
Yes, of course, i have tried. I would say, i've tried only soft chili like jalapeno, cayenne. I like to add jalapeno or cayenne to my dishes, chili improves taste of dish, but if you choose to spicy chili, it can turn out that that there is no taste.
3) Have you been aware how healthy chili peppers can be? Maybe you know some other tasty and healthy spices.
Yes, i know that chili is healthy for our body. Chili helps us during diet. I have heard that chili helps people with cancer to defeat this awful illnes.
2. Are there people around that haven't tried chilli? I'd say that I have a special love to pepperoni (especially on pizza) and jalapeno, however, I use Piri-Piri the most as it is spacier and lasts longer.
3. Sure! My mother hated spicy food, but when she found out the health benefits and the role in the metabolic system spicy peppers have, she started to like hot food! Tumeric is also very healthy and surprisingly spicy. It can be eaten either in warm dishes or in juices, however, watch out, it gets stuck in the juicer a lot.
I do not like spicy dishes. It is because even if the food is slightly spicy, my face burns a lot. If I eat spicy food, I always have large yogurt next to me. It helps a little, but it’s not 100% efficient. My favorite chili food is shrimps with butter, wine, garlic, and chili - served with a garlic butter baguette. I am also a big fan of chili con carne.
2) Have you ever tried chili? If yes, try to describe what kind of chili it was.
Unfortunately, I have tried chili. I once took a bite of a chili to try - never again. It was too spicy for me, after trying, it burned my mouth for a long time. I think the chili I tried was cayenne.
3) Have you been aware how healthy chili peppers can be? Maybe you know some other tasty and healthy spices.
I had no idea that chili peppers are good for cancer. I will consider adding chili to the food more often. I know that garlic is very healthy. When I feel that I have a cold, I eat garlic sandwiches and then I feel much better.
Yeah I kinda like spicy food. I';m used to say that something doesn't have any taste that is why when it comes for spacy food, im enjoying it. I might not be able to sense all the aromas but for sure that is really enjoyable to eat. If i were to pick one well... I woudn't but the last one i really enjoyed was the spicy ramen. The coconut milk that is added on lower layer also does a great job!
2) Have you ever tried chili? If yes, try to describe what kind of chili it was.
I have tried few types of chili. It's important to eat the ones you like and I like jalapeno chili as is has the right amount of spicyness for me. It';s not something you have to fight with. It's good enough to eat and not have any problems later on which I think is pretty important
3) Have you been aware how healthy chili peppers can be? Maybe you know some other tasty and healthy spices.
Actually yes, I was aware of that. But it didn't change the amount of spicy food I'm eating.
Sadly i don't know many benefits of spices so i can't recommend any
Yes of course. These are my favorite dishes. I like spicy burritos. Burrito includes juicy beef burrito filling, plain white rice or brown one, corn, black beans - full of proteins, cabbage or lettuce, diced tomato, red onion and cheese. Chilli gives full flavor.
2. Have you ever tried chili? If yes, try to describe what kind of chili it was.
Yes, i have. I ate Ghost Pepper. It is red and looks like a dried tomato. However, it is the sharpest variety, so a small bite can lead to bedtime and excessive drooling. I tried it as a curiosity and I'm not going to repeat this mistake again because I got severe allergy after it.
3. Have you been aware how healthy chili peppers can be? Maybe you know some other tasty and healthy spices.
I have been aware of that fact. Besides chili, cinnamon is a spice that lowers blood sugar. It is used in a variety of sweet autumn beverages. Thanks to this, people with diabetes can drink this sweetness without much risk.
I prefer mild dishes in terms of spiceness. But I do like some spicy dishes. I like when spicy feeling comes with foods like turkish kebabs, mexican tacos or oriental fried dishes or soups. My favourite one is definitely thai tom yum soup. It’s sweet, sour and very spicy in pleasant way. For me this is the perfect mixture of all tastes.
2) Have you ever tried chili? If yes, try to describe what kind of chili it was.
I have eaten regular chilli peppers, jalapeno peppers and habanero peppers. Once I had an opportunity to try some kind of the most spicy pepper (I don’t remember the name of it) but I wasn’t;t brave enough to do it.
3) Have you been aware how healthy chili peppers can be? Maybe you know some other tasty and healthy spices.
I was aware of health benefits we can use from capsaicin in hot peppers. For example I’ve read somewhere, that eating spicy peppers can ease the pain felt in our body. I have heard about other healthy and tasty spices that can benefit our health. It has been proven that cinnamon can lower blood sugar, ginger relieve nausea. Garlic supposedly boosts heart health and eating turmeric helps fighting inflammation.
2. Yes as I like spicy food I had to try chilli. I ate habanero (the spicest for me), japaleno and plain chilli. At this moment I haven’t tried more chilli types.
3. Yes, because chilli is spicy it can kill bacteria and other microorganisms, protecting us against disease. Spices that are also spicy are, for example, ginger, which we can add to some Thai food or tea that will be perfect for autumn and winter weather. In addition, pepper is one of basic spices that we use every day and is also hot.
I tried chili, but I’m not sure what kind it was. I think it wasn’t anything special, just classic chwili, if I can say that. Sorry, just have no idea. It’s also hard to describe the taste as I remember only my stomach ache after unfortunately. Last time I tried something spicy was two years ago, and now I try to avoid it as much as I can.
I have heard that chili peppers can be healthy, and some other food but I wasn’t much curious about it because of what I mentioned before. But it’s really awesome that spicy food can be that healthy.