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''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the
nightshade The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and orna ...
family
Solanaceae The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and orn ...
, native to
the Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America, North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. ...
, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or
bell pepper The bell pepper (also known as paprika, sweet pepper, pepper, or capsicum ) is the fruit of plants in the Grossum Group of the species ''Capsicum annuum''. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange ...
fruit.


Etymology and names

The generic name may come from Latin , meaning 'box', presumably alluding to the pods; or possibly from the Greek word , 'to gulp'. The name "pepper" comes from the similarity of piquance (spiciness or "heat") of the flavor to that of black pepper, '' Piper nigrum'', although there is no botanical relationship with it or with Sichuan pepper. The original term, ''chilli'' (now ''chile'' in Mexico) came from the
Nahuatl Nahuatl (; ), Aztec, or Mexicano is a language or, by some definitions, a group of languages of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Varieties of Nahuatl are spoken by about Nahua peoples, most of whom live mainly in Central Mexico and have smaller ...
word ''chīlli'', denoting a larger ''Capsicum'' variety cultivated at least since 3000 BC, as evidenced by remains found in pottery from
Puebla Puebla ( en, colony, settlement), officially Free and Sovereign State of Puebla ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its cap ...
and Oaxaca. Different varieties were cultivated in South America, where they are known as ''ajíes'' (singular ''ají''), from the Quechua term for ''Capsicum''. The fruit (technically berries in the strict botanical sense) of ''Capsicum'' plants have a variety of names depending on place and type. The more piquant varieties are commonly called chili peppers, or simply chilis. The large, mild form is called
bell pepper The bell pepper (also known as paprika, sweet pepper, pepper, or capsicum ) is the fruit of plants in the Grossum Group of the species ''Capsicum annuum''. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange ...
, or by color or both (green pepper, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, etc.) in North America and South Africa, sweet pepper or simply pepper in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Malaysia, but typically called capsicum in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, India, New Zealand and Singapore. ''Capsicum'' fruits of several varieties with commercial value are called by various European-language names in English, such as jalapeño, peperoncini, and peperoncito; many of these are usually sold pickled.
Paprika Paprika ( US , ; UK , ) is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It is traditionally made from ''Capsicum annuum'' varietals in the Longum group, which also includes chili peppers, but the peppers used for paprika tend to be milder an ...
(in English) refers to a powdered spice made of dried ''Capsicum'' of several sorts, though in Hungary, Germany,
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
, Finland and some other countries it is the name of the fruit (or the vegetable) as well. Both whole and powdered chili are frequent ingredients in dishes prepared throughout the world, and characteristic of several cuisine styles, including
Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
, Sichuan (Szechuan) Chinese, Korean, Cajun and Creole, along with most
South Asian South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geography, geographical and culture, ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, ...
and derived (e.g. Jamaican) curries. The powdered form is a key ingredient in various commercially prepared foodstuffs, such as pepperoni (a sausage), chili con carne (a meat stew), and hot sauces.


Taxonomy

Capiscum are solanaceous plants within the tribe
Capsiceae Capsiceae is a taxonomic tribe of bellpeppers and related plants belonging to the Solanoideae subfamily within the family Solanaceae. The tribe was described by Barthélemy Charles Joseph Dumortier in 1827. Phylogenomes Research from spacer da ...
, and are closely related to ''
Lycianthes ''Lycianthes'' is a genus of plants from the nightshade family ( Solanaceae), found in both the Old World and the New World, but predominantly in the latter. It contains roughly 150 species, mostly from tropical America, with 35-40 species in As ...
''. Work by Olmstead et. al, have proposed the following phylogenetic tree for Capsicum *''
Solanaceae The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and orn ...
'' **'' Solanoideae'' *** ''
Capsiceae Capsiceae is a taxonomic tribe of bellpeppers and related plants belonging to the Solanoideae subfamily within the family Solanaceae. The tribe was described by Barthélemy Charles Joseph Dumortier in 1827. Phylogenomes Research from spacer da ...
'' ****''Capsicum'' *****See
species list In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate ...
****''
Lycianthes ''Lycianthes'' is a genus of plants from the nightshade family ( Solanaceae), found in both the Old World and the New World, but predominantly in the latter. It contains roughly 150 species, mostly from tropical America, with 35-40 species in As ...
'' **'' Nicotianoideae''


Growing conditions

Ideal growing conditions for peppers include a sunny position with warm,
loam Loam (in geology and soil science) is soil composed mostly of sand (particle size > ), silt (particle size > ), and a smaller amount of clay (particle size < ). By weight, its mineral composition is about 40–40–20% concentration of sand–sil ...
y soil, ideally , that is moist but not waterlogged. Extremely moist soils can cause seedlings to "damp-off" and reduce germination. The plants will tolerate (but do not like) temperatures down to and they are sensitive to cold. For flowering, ''Capsicum'' is a non-
photoperiod Photoperiodism is the physiological reaction of organisms to the length of night or a dark period. It occurs in plants and animals. Plant photoperiodism can also be defined as the developmental responses of plants to the relative lengths of light a ...
-sensitive crop. The flowers can
self-pollinate Self-pollination is a form of pollination in which pollen from the same plant arrives at the stigma of a flower (in flowering plants) or at the ovule (in gymnosperms). There are two types of self-pollination: in autogamy, pollen is transferred t ...
. However, at extremely high temperature, , pollen loses viability, and flowers are much less likely to result in fruit.


Species and varieties

''Capsicum'' consists of 20–27 species, five of which are widely cultivated: ''
C. annuum ''Capsicum annuum'' is a species of the plant genus '' Capsicum'' native to southern North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. This species is the most common and extensively cultivated of the five domesticated capsicums. The sp ...
'', '' C. baccatum'', '' C. chinense'', '' C. frutescens'', and '' C. pubescens''. Phylogenetic relationships between species have been investigated using
biogeographical Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities often vary in a regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, i ...
, morphological, chemosystematic,
hybridization Hybridization (or hybridisation) may refer to: *Hybridization (biology), the process of combining different varieties of organisms to create a hybrid *Orbital hybridization, in chemistry, the mixing of atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals *Nu ...
, and genetic data. Fruits of ''Capsicum'' can vary tremendously in color, shape, and size both between and within species, which has led to confusion over the relationships among taxa. Chemosystematic studies helped distinguish the difference between varieties and species. For example, '' C. baccatum'' var. ''baccatum'' had the same flavonoids as ''C. baccatum'' var. ''pendulum'', which led researchers to believe the two groups belonged to the same species. Many varieties of the same species can be used in many different ways; for example, ''
C. annuum ''Capsicum annuum'' is a species of the plant genus '' Capsicum'' native to southern North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. This species is the most common and extensively cultivated of the five domesticated capsicums. The sp ...
'' includes the "bell pepper" variety, which is sold in both its immature green state and its red, yellow, or orange ripe state. This same species has other varieties, as well, such as the
Anaheim Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-most p ...
chiles often used for stuffing, the dried ancho (before being dried it is referred to as a
poblano The poblano (''Capsicum annuum'') is a mild chili pepper originating in the state of Puebla, Mexico. Dried, it is called ancho or chile ancho, from the Spanish word ''ancho'' ("wide"). Stuffed fresh and roasted it is popular in '' chiles relle ...
) chile used to make chili powder, the mild-to-hot, ripe jalapeno used to make smoked jalapeno, known as
chipotle A chipotle (, ; ), or ''chilpotle'', is a smoking (food), smoke-dried ripe jalapeño chili pepper used for seasoning. It is a chili used primarily in Mexican cuisine, Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Tex-Mex cuisine, Tex-Mex and So ...
. Peru is thought to be the country with the highest cultivated ''Capsicum'' diversity since varieties of all five domesticates are commonly sold in markets in contrast to other countries.
Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
is considered to be the country where the largest diversity of wild ''Capsicum'' peppers are consumed. Bolivian consumers distinguish two basic forms: ulupicas, species with small round fruits including '' C. eximium'', '' C. cardenasii'', ''C. eshbaughii'', and ''C. caballeroi'' landraces; and arivivis, with small elongated fruits including '' C. baccatum'' var. ''baccatum'' and '' C. chacoense'' varieties. The amount of capsaicin is measured in
Scoville heat unit The Scoville scale is a measurement of the pungency (spiciness or "heat") of chili peppers, as recorded in Scoville heat units (SHU), based on the concentration of capsaicinoids, among which capsaicin is the predominant component. The scale ...
s (SHU) and this value varies significantly among Capsicum varieties. For example, a typical
Bell pepper The bell pepper (also known as paprika, sweet pepper, pepper, or capsicum ) is the fruit of plants in the Grossum Group of the species ''Capsicum annuum''. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange ...
has a value of zero SHU and a Jalapeño has a value of 4000–8000 SHU. In 2017, the Guinness Book of World Records listed the Carolina Reaper as the world's hottest pepper at 1,641,183 SHU, according to tests conducted by Winthrop University in South Carolina, United States.


Species list

Sources: * '' Capsicum annuum'' L. ** ''glabriusculum'' var. ** New Mexico Group * '' Capsicum baccatum'' L. * ''
Capsicum benoistii ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' Hunz. ex Barboza * ' Hunz. * ' Barboza & Agra * ' M. Nee * ' Sendtn. * ' Barboza & Bianch. * ''
Capsicum cardenasii ''Capsicum cardenasii'' is a plant species in the genus ''Capsicum'' and the family Solanaceae. It is a diploid with 2n=2x=24. It is a member within the '' C. pubescens'' complex, a group of closely related ''Capsicum'' species. It is closely rel ...
'' Heiser & P. G. Sm. * ' M. Nee * ''
Capsicum chacoense ''Capsicum chacoense'' is a species of the genus ''Capsicum'' native to South America. While it is rarely cultivated by humans, it, like domesticated ''Capsicum'' species, produces edible fruit. Plant characteristics ''Capsicum chacoense'' plan ...
'' Hunz. * ''
Capsicum chinense ''Capsicum chinense'', commonly known as a "habanero-type pepper", is a species of chili pepper native to the Americas. ''C. chinense'' varieties are well known for their unique flavors and many have exceptional heat. The hottest peppers in the ...
'' Jacq. * ''
Capsicum coccineum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' (Rusby) Hunz. * ' (Hiern) Hunz. * ''
Capsicum dimorphum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the Solanum, nightshade family Solanaceae, native to Americas, the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come f ...
'' (Miers) Kuntze * ''
Capsicum dusenii ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' Bitter * ''
Capsicum eshbaughii ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' Barboza * ''
Capsicum eximium ''Capsicum eximium'' is a member of the genus ''Capsicum'' with 2n=2x=24, and native to the New World, specifically the Andean region of South America. It is one of the "purple-flowered" ''Capsicums'' along with '' Capsicum cardenasii'' and ''Cap ...
'' Hunz. * ''
Capsicum flexuosum ''Capsicum flexuosum'' is a member of the genus ''Capsicum,'' and is native to the New World, specifically the southern regions of Brazil. Unlike most other chili peppers, it is only mildly pungent and has issues with self-compatibility. Plant ...
'' Sendtn. * ' Bianch. & Barboza * '' Capsicum frutescens'' L. * ' Hunz. * ''
Capsicum geminifolium ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' (Dammer) Hunz. * ''
Capsicum havanense ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' Kunth * ''
Capsicum hookerianum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' (Miers) Kuntze * ' Bianch. & Barboza * ' (Greenm.) C.V.Morton & Standl. * ''
Capsicum leptopodum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' (Dunal) Kuntze * ' Agra & Barboza * ' Barboza & S. Leiva * ''
Capsicum lycianthoides ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' Bitter * ''
Capsicum minutiflorum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' (Rusby) Hunz. * ''
Capsicum mirabile ''Capsicum mirabile'' is a wild species of the genus ''Capsicum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit ...
'' Mart. ex Sendtn. * ''
Capsicum mositicum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' Toledo * ''
Capsicum neei ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' Barboza & X. Reyes * ''
Capsicum parvifolium ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , mean ...
'' Sendtn. * ' Bianch. & Barboza * '' Capsicum pubescens'' Ruiz & Pav. * ' S. Leiva & Barboza * '' Capsicum praetermissum'' Heiser & Smith * ''
Capsicum ramosissimum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' Witasek * ' Witasek * ''
Capsicum regale ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the Solanum, nightshade family Solanaceae, native to Americas, the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come f ...
'' Barboza & Bohs * ''
Capsicum rhomboideum ''Capsicum rhomboideum'' is a perennial member of the genus ''Capsicum'' with 2n=2x=26, and is considered a distant wild relative of the chili pepper. Its fruit do not have any pungency, and are a 0 on the Scoville Heat Unit scale. It gets its na ...
'' (Dunal) Kuntze * ' Sendtn. * ''
Capsicum scolnikianum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , mean ...
'' Hunz. * ''
Capsicum spina-alba ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' (Dunal) Kuntze * ''
Capsicum stramoniifolium ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. Etymology and names The generic name may come from Latin , meaning ...
'' (Kunth) Standl. * ' Eshbaugh et al. * ' Sendtn.


Formerly placed here

* '' Tubocapsicum anomalum'' (Franch. & Sav.) Makino (as ''C. anomalum'' Franch. & Sav.) * '' Vassobia fasciculata'' (Miers) Hunz. (as ''C. grandiflorum'' Kuntze) * '' Witheringia stramoniifolia'' Kunth (as ''C. stramoniifolium'' (Kunth) Kuntze)


Genetics

Most ''Capsicum'' species are 2n=2x=24. A few of the non-domesticated species are 2n=2x=32. All are
diploid Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Sets of chromosomes refer to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, respectively ...
. The '' Capsicum annuum'' and ''
Capsicum chinense ''Capsicum chinense'', commonly known as a "habanero-type pepper", is a species of chili pepper native to the Americas. ''C. chinense'' varieties are well known for their unique flavors and many have exceptional heat. The hottest peppers in the ...
'' genomes were completed in 2014. The ''Capsicum annuum'' genome is approximately 3.48 Gb, making it larger than the human genome. Over 75% of the pepper genome is composed of transposable elements, mostly ''Gypsy'' elements, distributed widely throughout the genome. The distribution of transposable elements is inversely correlated with gene density. Pepper is predicted to have 34,903 genes, approximately the same number as both tomato and potato, two related species within the family
Solanaceae The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and orn ...
.


Breeding

Many types of peppers have been bred for heat, size, and yield. Along with selection of specific fruit traits such as flavor and color, specific pest, disease and abiotic stress resistances are continually being selected. Breeding occurs in several environments dependent on the use of the final variety including but not limited to: conventional,
organic Organic may refer to: * Organic, of or relating to an organism, a living entity * Organic, of or relating to an anatomical organ Chemistry * Organic matter, matter that has come from a once-living organism, is capable of decay or is the product ...
, hydroponic,
green house A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse, or, if with sufficient heating, a hothouse) is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of transparent Transparency, transparence or transparent most often refer to: * Transparency (optics), the phys ...
and shade house production environments. Several breeding programs are being conducted by corporations and universities. In the United States, New Mexico State University has released several varieties in the last few years. Cornell University has worked to develop regionally adapted varieties that work better in cooler, damper climates. Other universities such as UC Davis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Oregon State University have smaller breeding programs. Many vegetable seed companies breed different types of peppers as well.


Capsaicin

The fruit of most species of ''Capsicum'' contains capsaicin (methyl-n-vanillyl nonenamide), a lipophilic chemical that can produce a burning sensation ( pungency or
spiciness Pungency () refers to the taste of food commonly referred to as spiciness, hotness or heat, found in foods such as chili peppers. Highly pungent tastes may be experienced as unpleasant. The term piquancy () is sometimes applied to foods with a l ...
) in the mouth of the eater. Most
mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
s find this unpleasant, whereas birds are unaffected. The secretion of capsaicin protects the fruit from consumption by insects and
mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
s, while the bright colors attract birds that will disperse the seeds. Capsaicin is present in large quantities in the placental tissue (which holds the seeds), the internal membranes, and to a lesser extent, the other fleshy parts of the fruits of plants in this genus. The seeds themselves do not produce any capsaicin, although the highest concentration of capsaicin can be found in the white pith around the seeds. Most of the capsaicin in a pungent (hot) pepper is concentrated in blisters on the epidermis of the interior ribs (septa) that divide the chambers, or
locule A locule (plural locules) or loculus (plural loculi) (meaning "little place" in Latin) is a small cavity or compartment within an organ or part of an organism (animal, plant, or fungus). In angiosperms (flowering plants), the term ''locule'' usu ...
s, of the fruit to which the seeds are attached. A study on capsaicin production in fruits of '' C. chinense'' showed that capsaicinoids are produced only in the epidermal cells of the interlocular septa of pungent fruits, that blister formation only occurs as a result of capsaicinoid accumulation, and that pungency and blister formation are controlled by a single locus, ''Pun1'', for which there exist at least two recessive alleles that result in non-pungency of ''C. chinense'' fruits. The amount of capsaicin in the fruit is highly variable and dependent on genetics and environment, giving almost all types of ''Capsicum'' varied amounts of perceived heat. The most recognized ''Capsicum'' without capsaicin is the
bell pepper The bell pepper (also known as paprika, sweet pepper, pepper, or capsicum ) is the fruit of plants in the Grossum Group of the species ''Capsicum annuum''. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange ...
, a cultivar of '' Capsicum annuum'', which has a zero rating on the Scoville scale. The lack of capsaicin in bell peppers is due to a
recessive In genetics, dominance is the phenomenon of one variant (allele) of a gene on a chromosome masking or overriding the effect of a different variant of the same gene on the other copy of the chromosome. The first variant is termed dominant and t ...
gene that eliminates capsaicin and, consequently, the hot taste usually associated with the rest of the genus ''Capsicum''. There are also other peppers without capsaicin, mostly within the ''Capsicum annuum'' species, such as the cultivars Giant Marconi, Yummy Sweets, Jimmy Nardello, and Italian Frying peppers (also known as the Cubanelle). Chili peppers are of great importance in the medicine of Indigenous peoples, and capsaicin is used in modern medicine mainly in topical medications as a
circulatory The blood circulatory system is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the entire body of a human or other vertebrate. It includes the cardiovascular system, or vascular system, tha ...
stimulant Stimulants (also often referred to as psychostimulants or colloquially as uppers) is an overarching term that covers many drugs including those that increase activity of the central nervous system and the body, drugs that are pleasurable and inv ...
and
analgesic An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic (American English), analgaesic (British English), pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used to achieve relief from pain (that is, analgesia or pain management). It ...
. In more recent times, an
aerosol An aerosol is a suspension (chemistry), suspension of fine solid particles or liquid Drop (liquid), droplets in air or another gas. Aerosols can be natural or Human impact on the environment, anthropogenic. Examples of natural aerosols are fog o ...
extract of capsaicin, usually known as capsicum or pepper spray, has become used by law enforcement as a
nonlethal Non-lethal weapons, also called nonlethal weapons, less-lethal weapons, less-than-lethal weapons, non-deadly weapons, compliance weapons, or pain-inducing weapons are weapons intended to be less likely to kill a living target than conventional ...
means of incapacitating a person, and in a more widely dispersed form for riot control, or by individuals for personal defense. Pepper in vegetable oils, or as an horticultural product can be used in gardening as a natural
insecticide Insecticides are substances used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed to b ...
. Although black pepper causes a similar burning sensation, it is caused by a different substance— piperine.


Cuisine

''Capsicum'' fruits can be eaten raw or cooked. Those used in cooking are generally varieties of the ''C. annuum'' and ''C. frutescens'' species, though a few others are used, as well. They are suitable for stuffing with fillings such as cheese, meat, or rice. They are also frequently used both chopped and raw in salads, or cooked in stir-fries or other mixed dishes. They can be sliced into strips and fried, roasted whole or in pieces, or chopped and incorporated into salsas or other sauces, of which they are often a main ingredient. They can be preserved in the form of a
jam Jam is a type of fruit preserve. Jam or Jammed may also refer to: Other common meanings * A firearm malfunction * Block signals ** Radio jamming ** Radar jamming and deception ** Mobile phone jammer ** Echolocation jamming Arts and entertai ...
, or by drying, pickling, or freezing. Dried Capsicum may be reconstituted whole, or processed into flakes or powders. Pickled or marinated Capsicum are frequently added to sandwiches or salads. Frozen Capsicum are used in stews, soups, and salsas. Extracts can be made and incorporated into hot sauces. The Spanish '' conquistadores'' soon became aware of their culinary properties, and brought them back to Europe, together with cocoa, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tobacco, maize, beans, and turkeys. They also brought it to the Spanish Philippines colonies, whence it spread to Asia. The Portuguese brought them to their African and Asiatic possessions such as India. All varieties were appreciated but the hot ones were particularly appreciated, because they could enliven an otherwise monotonous diet during times of dietary restriction, such as during religious observances. Spanish cuisine soon benefited from the discovery of chiles in the New World, and it would become very difficult to untangle Spanish cooking from chiles. Ground chiles, or paprika, hot or otherwise, are a key ingredient in
chorizo Chorizo (, from Spanish ; similar to but distinct from Portuguese ) is a type of pork cured meat originating from the Iberian Peninsula. In Europe, chorizo is a fermented, cured, smoked meat, which may be sliced and eaten without cooking, or ...
, which is then called picante (if hot chile is added) or dulce (if otherwise). Paprika is also an important ingredient in rice dishes, and plays a definitive role in squid Galician style (''
polbo á feira ''Polbo á feira'' (literally meaning " fair-style octopus", ''pulpo a la gallega'' in Spanish, meaning Galician-style octopus), alternatively known as ''pulpo estilo feira'', is a traditional Galician dish. This dish is prepared by first bo ...
''). Chopped chiles are used in fish or lamb dishes such as '' ajoarriero'' or '' chilindrón''. '' Pisto'' is a vegetarian stew with chilies and zucchini as main ingredients. They can also be added, finely chopped, to '' gazpacho'' as a garnish. In some regions, bacon is salted and dusted in paprika for preservation. Cheese can also be rubbed with paprika to lend it flavour and colour. Dried round chiles called '' ñoras'' are used for ''arroz a banda''. After being introduced by the Portuguese, chile peppers saw widespread adoption throughout South, Southeast, and East Asia, especially in India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Korea. Several new cultivars were developed in these countries, and their use in combination with (or as a substitute for) existing 'hot' culinary spices such as black pepper and Sichuan pepper spread rapidly, giving rise to the modern forms a number of staple dishes such as
Channa masala Chana masala (, literally 'mix-spiced small-chickpeas'), also known as channay, chole masala, chhole masala, chole or chholay (plural), is a dish originating from the Indian subcontinent. The main ingredient is a variety of chickpea called '' ...
, Tom yum,
Laziji Laziji () is a dish of Sichuan cuisine. It is a stir-fried dish, which consists of marinated then deep-fried pieces of chicken, dried Sichuan chilli peppers, spicy bean paste, Sichuan peppers, garlic, and ginger. Toasted sesame seeds and slice ...
, and Kimchi. This would in turn influence Anglo-Indian and
American Chinese cuisine American Chinese cuisine is a cuisine derived from Chinese cuisine that was developed by Chinese Americans. The dishes served in many North American Chinese restaurants are adapted to American tastes and often differ significantly from those ...
, most notably with the development of British and American forms of curry powder (based on Indian spice preparations such as Garam masala), and dishes such as General Tso's Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala. According to Richard Pankhurst, ''C. frutescens'' (known as '' barbaré'') was so important to the national cuisine of Ethiopia, at least as early as the 19th century, "that it was cultivated extensively in the warmer areas wherever the soil was suitable." Although it was grown in every province, ''barbaré'' was especially extensive in Yejju, "which supplied much of Showa, as well as other neighbouring provinces." He mentions the upper Golima River valley as being almost entirely devoted to the cultivation of this plant, where it was harvested year-round. In 2005, a poll of 2,000 people revealed the capsicum to be Britain's fourth-favourite culinary vegetable. In Hungary, sweet yellow capsicum – along with tomatoes – are the main ingredient of ''
lecsó Lecsó ( en, Lecho, ; hu, lecsó ; Czech and Slovak: ''lečo''; german: Letscho; pl, leczo; Russian and ua, лечо) is a Hungarian thick vegetable ragout or stew which traditionally contains yellow pointed peppers, tomato, onion, salt, a ...
''. In Bulgaria, South Serbia, and North Macedonia, capsicum are very popular, too. They can be eaten in salads, like ''
shopska salata Shopska salad ( Bulgarian, Macedonian and Serbian: ''Шопска салата''; hr, Šopska salata; ro, Salata bulgărească; cs, Šopský salát; pl, Sałatka szopska; sq, Sallatë Shope; hu, Sopszka saláta; el, Σαλάτα σόπ ...
''; fried and then covered with a dip of tomato paste, onions, garlic, and parsley; or stuffed with a variety of products, such as minced meat and rice, beans, or cottage cheese and eggs. Capsicum are also the main ingredient in the traditional tomato and capsicum dip '' lyutenitsa'' and '' ajvar''. They are in the base of different kinds of pickled vegetables dishes, '' turshiya''. Capsicum is also used widely in Italian cuisine, and the hot species are used all around the southern part of Italy as a common spice (sometimes served with
olive oil Olive oil is a liquid fat obtained from olives (the fruit of ''Olea europaea''; family Oleaceae), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin, produced by pressing whole olives and extracting the oil. It is commonly used in cooking: f ...
). Capsicums are used in many dishes; they can be cooked by themselves in a variety of ways (roasted, fried, deep-fried) and are a fundamental ingredient for some delicatessen specialities, such as ''
nduja 'Nduja () is a spicy, spreadable pork sausage from the region of Calabria in Southern Italy. It is similar to sobrassada from the Balearic Islands in Spain, and is loosely based on the French andouille. It is Calabria's contribution to the many t ...
''. Capsicums are also used extensively in
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
cuisine as side dishes. The Maya and Aztec people of Mesoamerica used ''Capsicum'' fruit in cocoa drinks as a flavouring. In New Mexico, there is a capsicum annuum
cultivar group A Group (previously cultivar-groupInternational Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, 4th edition (1969), 5th edition (1980) and 6th edition (1995)) is a formal category in the ''International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants'' ('' ...
called the New Mexico chile which is a mainstay of the state's New Mexican cuisine.


GRAS

Only Capsicum frutescens L. and Capsicum annuum L. are Generally recognized as safe.


Synonyms and common names

The name given to the ''Capsicum'' fruits varies between English-speaking countries. In Australia, New Zealand and India, heatless varieties are called "capsicums", while hot ones are called "chilli"/"chillies" (double L). Pepperoncini are also known as "sweet capsicum". The term "bell peppers" is never used, although ''C. annuum'' and other varieties which have a bell shape and are fairly hot, are often called "bell chillies". In Canada, Ireland, South Africa and the United Kingdom, the heatless varieties are commonly known simply as "peppers" (or more specifically "green peppers", "red peppers", etc.), while the hot ones are "chilli"/"chillies" (double L) or "chilli peppers". In the United States, the common heatless varieties are referred to as "bell peppers", "sweet peppers", "red/green/etc. peppers", or simply "peppers", while the hot varieties are collectively called "chile"/"chiles", "chili"/"chilies", or "chili"/"chile peppers" (one L only), "hot peppers", or named as a specific variety (e.g., banana pepper). In
Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...
and in Hungarian, the term ''papryka'' and ''paprika'' (respectively) is used for all kinds of capsicums (the sweet vegetable, and the hot spicy), as well as for dried and ground spice made from them (named
paprika Paprika ( US , ; UK , ) is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It is traditionally made from ''Capsicum annuum'' varietals in the Longum group, which also includes chili peppers, but the peppers used for paprika tend to be milder an ...
in both U.S. English and Commonwealth English). Also, fruit and spice can be attributed as ''papryka ostra'' (hot pepper) or ''papryka słodka'' (sweet pepper). In Polish, the term ''pieprz'' (pepper) instead means only grains or ground black pepper (incl. the green, white, and red forms), but not capsicum. Sometimes, the hot capsicum spice is also called ''chilli''. Similarly, Hungarian uses the word ''bors'' for the black pepper. In Czech and Slovak, the term ''paprika'' is too used for all kinds of capsicums. For black pepper, Czech uses ''pepř'', while Slovak uses ''čierne korenie'' (literally, black spice) or, dialectally, ''piepor''. In Italy and the Italian- and German-speaking parts of Switzerland, the sweet varieties are called ''peperone'' and the hot varieties ''peperoncino'' (literally "small pepper"). In Germany, the heatless varieties as well as the spice are called ''Paprika'' and the hot types are primarily called ''Peperoni'' or ''Chili'' while in Austria, ''Pfefferoni'' is more common for these; in Dutch, this word is also used exclusively for bell peppers, whereas ''chilli'' is reserved for powders, and hot pepper variants are referred to as ''Spaanse pepers'' (Spanish peppers). In Switzerland, though, the condiment powder made from capsicum is called ''Paprika'' (German language regions) and ''paprica'' (French and Italian language region). In French, capsicum is called ''poivron'' for sweet varieties and ''piment'' for hot ones. Spanish-speaking countries use many different names for the varieties and preparations. In Mexico, the term ''chile'' is used for "hot peppers", while the heatless varieties are called ''pimiento'' (the masculine form of the word for pepper, which is ''pimienta''). Several other countries, such as Chile, whose name is unrelated,
Perú , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy fo ...
, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Argentina, use ''ají''. In Spain, heatless varieties are called ''pimiento'' and hot varieties ''guindilla''. In Argentina and Spain, the variety ''C. chacoense'' is commonly known as "putaparió", a slang expression equivalent to "damn it", probably due to its extra-hot flavour. In Indian English, the word "capsicum" is used exclusively for ''Capsicum annuum''. All other varieties of hot capsicum are called chilli. In northern India and Pakistan, ''C. annuum'' is also commonly called ''shimla mirch'' in the local language and as "Kodai Mozhagai" in
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...
which roughly translates to "umbrella chilli" due to its appearance. '' Shimla'', incidentally, is a popular hill-station in India (and ''mirch'' means chilli in local languages). In Japanese, ''tōgarashi'' (唐辛子, トウガラシ "Chinese mustard") refers to hot chili peppers, and particularly a spicy powder made from them which is used as a condiment, while bell peppers are called ''pīman'' (ピーマン, from the French ''piment'' or the Spanish ''pimiento'').


Pictures of ''common'' cultivars

File:朝天椒果實.jpg, Capsicum annum L. var. fasciculatum Irish. File:Capsicum annum L. var. fasciculatum Irish.jpg, Capsicum annum L. var. fasciculatum Irish. Image:Capsicum annuum.JPG, ''C. annuum'' cultivars Image:Capsicum1.jpg, A variety of coloured ''Capsicum'' File:Pickled friggitelli.jpg, Peperoncini (''C. annuum'') Image:Fefferoni.jpg, Peperoncini in kebab restaurant Image:Large Cayenne.jpg, Cayenne pepper (''C. annuum'') Image:Compact orange pepper plants.jpg, Compact plant of orange ''Capsicum'' Image:Habanero chile - fruits (aka).jpg, Habanero chili (''C. chinense'' Jacquin)- plant with flower and fruit Image:HotPeppersinMarket.jpg, Scotch bonnet (''C. chinense'') in a Caribbean market Image:Scotch-bonnet.jpg, Scotch bonnet Image:Thai peppers.jpg, Thai peppers (''C. annuum'') Image:Green chillies.jpg, Fresh Indian green chillies in Bangalore market Image:African red devil peppers.jpg, Piri piri (''C. frutescens'' 'African Devil') Image:Naga Jolokia Peppers.jpg, Naga jolokia Chilli ( bhut jolokia) (''C. chinense'' x ''C. frutescens'') Image:Capsicum_Annum_Flower.JPG, ''C. annuum'' flower Image:Capsicum_Annum_Flower_Closeup.JPG, ''C. annum'' flower close up Image:Green-Yellow-Red-Pepper-2009.jpg, Green, yellow, and red capsicum File:Makro Bunga Cabai.jpg, The flower of red hot ''bangi'' pepper, Malaysia File:Capsicum Malaysia.jpg, A small but very hot ''Capsicum'' in Malaysia File:Peperoni Cruschi.jpg,
Peperoni cruschi The peperone crusco ('crispy pepper', peperoni cruschi) also known as 'crusco pepper', is a typical product of the Italian region of Basilicata. It is recognized as a prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale (traditional regional food product). Bei ...
, dried and crispy ''Capsicum'' from
Basilicata it, Lucano (man) it, Lucana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = ...
File:মরিচ বা লংকা.jpg, ''Capsicum'' in Bangladesh File:Naga jolokia chili.jpg,
Naga Morich The Naga Morich, (also known as Naga Moriç in Sylheti) is a chili pepper grown in Northeast India and Bangladesh. There is no consensus on whether this is synonymous with the Bhut Jolokia, or a different variety. It is also one of the hottest k ...
in Bangladesh


See also

* List of Capsicum cultivars * List of vegetables * New Mexico chile * Pimento * Scoville scale


References


External links


Capsicum pepper factsheet
from Purdue Guide to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

History, Botany, Breeding, and Pungency. Purdue University, Indiana, U.S.A. *

DPI&F Queensland, Australia. {{Authority control Crops originating from the Americas Indian spices Fruit vegetables Solanaceae genera