Most people only consume chillies when they are having a curry or kebab, but this versatile and colourful fruit is found in a wide range of cultural dishes and is not only associated with the heat that they produce.
Chillies have been found to have a wide range of health benefits (including anti-inflammatory aspects) and are also renowned for being a blood thinner that can reduce the risk of clots and strokes. Of course, if you are looking for a way to spice up a burger or any food, all you have to do is that a few slices of chilli pepper.
But despite their popularity, relatively little is known about them and in this article, you’ll be introduced to 5 facts that you may not know about the infamous chilli pepper.
There Are Over 1000 Types of Chillies!
The term chilli pepper is very broad, and the plant itself is capable of mutation. In its native Mexico, there are over 140 different kinds of wild chilli pepper alone! Everything from the environment to the soil temperature and the weather can impact the type of chilli that mutates or grows. So, if you are looking for wholesale chilli suppliers for your business, you may need to ask the professionals for advice on the types you want, as there are over 1000 different kinds!
They Are One of The Oldest Domesticated Vegetables
Peppers are thought to have been one of the first domesticated plants by humans. There have been chilli pepper seeds dated to over 6000 years ago in Peru and Mexico. Interestingly, there have even been residual aspects of chilli peppers found on ancient cooking tools in these areas and other parts of South America. So, it seems humans have long enjoyed having a bit of spice in their food.
Some Parts Are Hotter Than Others
If you have ever eaten a chilli pepper, you would not be the first person to think that the second bite into this fruit is hotter than the first. This is because the flash near the seeds is higher in the active ingredient capsaicin to prevent the seeds from being eaten. The part of the pepper that is closest to the stem is the hottest part and many people believe this is designed to prevent this fruit from being harvested, as it can even cause tingling and unpleasant sensations on bare skin.
Only Mammals Feel The Heat of Chillies
It seems that chilli peppers have evolved to prevent mammals from eating them. Birds, who eat chilli peppers regularly, do not experience the heat or spiciness of the fruit. They are primarily responsible for helping peppers to spread by consuming them and excreting the seeds.
There Is An Official Hotness Scale
While you may think determining the spice or heat of pepper would be difficult, there is a scale that ranks the heat of peppers. This is called the Scoville scale and is named after Wilbur Scoville who was particularly interested in the heat of peppers. This scale ranges from 1 to 2.2 million SHU, or Scoville heat units, with the Carolina Reaper at the far end of the heat spectrum.
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