There are many different types of chili peppers, which vary in size, shape, color and hotness. They are the fruit of plants in the genus Capsicum. They range from the mild and popular bell peppers to the insanely hot Naga Jolokia peppers of India. Chili peppers originated in South and Central America and were brought over to Europe in the late 1400s.

The heat or spicy hotness of peppers are measured in Scoville units, created by the American chemist Wilbur Scoville. Very mild peppers, like bell peppers, have a Scoville rating of 0-100, while the hottest peppers have a 100,000 to 1,000,000+ rating.

Peppers are a mainstay of many cultural foods, including Mexican, various South American, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Ethiopian, and many more.

When buying chili peppers be sure they have firm skins and have a vivid color. Avoid chili peppers with black spots or that appear wrinkled. If you are purchasing dried chili peppers pick the ones that are still full of color. You can purchase both fresh and dried chili peppers throughout the year.

Chili peppers history traces back to Central and South America where their cuisine is known for its hot, spicy flavors. Chili peppers have been grown in these regions for more than 7000 years being used first for decoration. During the 15th and 16th centuries chili peppers made their way to other parts of the world when the explorers discovered them in South America. Chili peppers are now grown in all continents, but China, Turkey, Nigeria, Spain and Mexico are the largest producers.

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