| Where did peppers come from? | | | | Fresno |
| One of the most common geniuses of peppers, | | | | Poblano |
| known as the capsicum, is thought to have been in | | | | Habanero |
| existence millions of years ago in present-day Bolivia, | | | | Cubanelle |
| according to the Chicago Botanic Garden's Information | | | | Chipotle |
| and Resources. But, the first known cultivation of | | | | Jalapeno |
| peppers happened in Mexico and Central, as well as | | | | Serrano |
| South America 10,000 years ago. The probable spread | | | | Mariachi |
| of these crops from Bolivia to these areas is attributed | | | | Aside from the different colored bell peppers used in |
| to birds. The capsicums existed mainly in the Americas | | | | stirfry, many of these other peppers are considered |
| until about 1600. Christopher Columbus' voyages were | | | | hot peppers. |
| helpful in spreading capsicum peppers throughout the | | | | How can you tell how hot a pepper is? |
| world. | | | | The range of spiciness for peppers is measured in |
| The original peppers were tiny and round, unlike most | | | | scoville units. Wilbur Scoville developed a scale to help |
| of today's peppers which are long and larger. | | | | determine this very issue and measure pepper |
| What can I do with peppers? | | | | pungency in 1912. The higher the number of scoville |
| Most commonly, peppers have been used to spice up | | | | units, the hotter the pepper. Here's a basic Scoville |
| generally boring foods like rice or corn. Through the | | | | Scale. that shows habaneros trumping chipotles and |
| years though, people have come up with a whole slew | | | | jalapenos as the most commonly known hottest |
| of uses for peppers from making pepper jelly, to using | | | | pepper. |
| ornamental peppers for garlands. Here's a list of the | | | | Health Effects |
| most interesting as well as some of the more | | | | Regular pepper consumption is thought to have both |
| common uses for peppers: | | | | good and bad effects on one's health. One of the |
| Pickled Peppers | | | | most clear effects of eating peppers is what it does |
| Pepper Jelly - Dried Apricot Jalapeno Jelly | | | | for congestion. Eating peppers, especially those hot |
| Roasted Peppers | | | | ones, will help clear up your nasal passages in no times |
| Adding Peppers to pasta dishes | | | | (as will most spicy foods!) |
| Hot Sauce | | | | According to a University study, consuming peppers |
| Pepper Garlands/Decorations | | | | regularly can help the body control its amount of insulin, |
| Using peppers in stirfry | | | | which would be very beneficial for diabetics. Other |
| Pepper vinegar | | | | studies show though that pepper digestion can |
| Pepper spray (animal deterrent for plants) | | | | increase the risks of stomach cancer, but the definite |
| What different types of peppers are there? | | | | answer remains unclear. Research has also been |
| There all sorts of classifications for peppers. There is | | | | linking peppers to helping stop the spread of prostrate |
| the scientific classification method that uses the genus | | | | cancer in some men. |
| and species name: The most commonly known and | | | | Pepper Recipes (see for the following:) |
| cultivated genus of peppers is the capsicum, whereas | | | | Pepper Sauce |
| the five most common species of peppers (all within | | | | Basic Salsa |
| the capsicum category) include: chinense, frutescens, | | | | Salsa Cruda |
| pubescens, annum, and baccatum. All of these types | | | | Crowd Pleasing Chili |
| of peppers are also labelled chillies. | | | | Roast Beef and Red Pepper Sandwiches |
| There is the usage method which categories various | | | | Impossibly Easy Roasted Red Peppers and Feta |
| peppers into hot, sweet, or ornamental. And then, there | | | | Cheese Pie |
| is the location-classified method that is what gives | | | | Tangy Lemon Pepper Shrimp |
| some peppers its actual name. | | | | Stuffed Peppers |
| Here's a basic list of some of the varieties of the | | | | Pepper Herb Grilling Rub |
| mentioned species of peppers you might see in your | | | | Sources: |
| local grocery stores: | | | | Chicago Botanic Gardens |
| Bell pepper | | | | The Scoville Scale |
| Anaheim pepper | | | | TheChilliKing. |