Are you a spicy-ophile just like me? Or someone who can’t handle the sight of chili in their food? No, we don’t judge here at all on the other hand we are here to share some spicy news about several kinds of chili peppers which can help you stay on top of your food game by giving it the deserved hotness.
Belonging to the genus Capsicum and members of the nightshade family Solanaceae are the berry fruits of plants chili also called chili peppers. Serving dual purposes such as being used as a part of both food and traditional medicine, there will be hardly any place that is unknown to chilies. Chilies are used worldwide as an ingredient to provide flavor and heat to the food by making it spicy. Even though it was originated in today’s Bolivia, it is believed that it was first cultivated in Mexico and the other parts of South America after the Christophorus Columbus discovered the New World in October 1492.
About 4000 varieties of chilies are there with new hybrids being created all the time. 5 species of cultivated chili varieties are 1) Capsicum annum 2) Capsicum baccatum 3) Capsicum Chinese 4) Capsicum frutescens 5) Capsicum pubescent. The largest group being Capsicum annum is used by a quarter of the population of the earth.
Types of Chili Pepper
Ever witnessed anything hot or spicy in your life? Well, you can try this. With its bright orange/red color this one knows how to stand out from the rest of the chilies. Being used in the southwest and Mexican cuisine Habanero pepper has a heat level of 4.
Having a heat level of 3, Cayenne pepper is a type of Capsicum annum. Having a long slender body and the glossy color of cherry red, this pepper is not only a popular addition to many cuisines among the world because of its spice level but also because it has several health benefits like providing beneficial plant compounds, protecting your heart, improving your digestion, maintaining weight, easing pain and clearing congestion.
Classified as Capsicum annum, these peppers vary in size and shape. In Thailand, it’s labeled as thai chile pepper to generalize the overall varieties and not create confusion in the common market. Prik kee noo suan, aka “mouse dropping pepper,” a name given for the pepper’s small and unassuming size, and Prik chee fah or the red spur chile pepper are two primary varieties of Thai chile peppers cultivated today having the heat level of 2.
Also known as Yellow wax pepper or Banana chilli, Banana pepper belongs to the cultivar of the species of Capsicum annum. Having the typical colour of yellow this pepper ripens by age turning from the colour yellow to green to red to orange. Having a mild tangy taste it has a heat level of 1.
10 Health Benefits of Chilli Pepper
- Acts as an appetizer: Pickles acts as one of the most popular and common appetizers. By using chillies, salt, turmeric and unripened fruits such as mangoes, lemons etc, one can easily make pickles.
- Provides Vitamin C: Enriched in Vitamin C, chillies help in building a stronger immune system.
- Has medicinal uses: As mentioned at the beginning of the article chillies are used in the preparation of medicines such as ointments due to the presence of a compound called Capsaicin.
- Provides minerals: Chillies provide minerals such as Potassium, Manganese, Iron, Magnesium etc.
- Prevents diabetes: According to research due to the presence of Capsaicin, the consumption of chilli pepper has the capacity to prevent diabetes.
- Prevent migraines: Chilli contains capsaicin, which is used to relieve headaches and migraines.
- Reduces risk of cancer: Capsaicin and antioxidants present in chilli peppers, according to the American Association for Cancer Research, can kill cancer cells in leukaemia and prostate cancer.
- Acts as a joint pain reliever: Chemical P is a substance that is in charge of sending pain signals to the brain. Applying the chilli pepper to the skin can also help to reduce the quantity of Chemical P in the body. As a result, it has the potential to be an effective joint pain reliever.
- Can fight Inflammation: Substance P is a neuropeptide that plays a role in the inflammatory response. In addition, capsaicin has the ability to block the chemical P. As a result, capsaicin is being considered as a possible treatment for a variety of sensory problems, including arthritis pain, diabetic neuropathy, and psoriasis.
- Promotes the growth of RBCs ( Red Blood Cells): Chilli peppers, which are high in copper and iron, can aid in the creation of new blood cells. As a result, they can alleviate anaemia and tiredness symptoms.
Spices and Herbs allowed in Navratri – Erakina
The endemic flightless birds-Erakina
