Chilli

Chilli - also called Chili, chile, chilly, chily, Mirchi, chilli pepper, Aji, Paprika

Chilli is the fruit of plant belonging to Capsicum genus. Chilli is one of the most spices garnishing dishes.

Family :  Solanaceae    Genus :  Capsicum
Species :  Capsicum annum, Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum chinense

Chilli is fruit of plants belonging to Capsicum genus. Capsicum is derived from the Greek word "Kapsimo" meaning "to bite." Chilli is an indispensable spice used as basic ingredient in everyday cuisine all over the world. The chilli powder is made by crushing the dried chilli having chilli flakes and chilli pods....> Read More.

• There are more than 400 varieties of chilli available all over the world. They differ in pungency, size, shape and colors.
  Click Here to Know More on Chilli Varieties.
   
• The climate in India was favorable to cultivate chillies and soon many varieties of chilli were available in India.
  Click Here to Know More on Indian Chilli Varieties.
   
• The Scoville Organoleptic Test was invented by a pharmacist, Wilbur L. Scoville, in 1912.
  Click Here to Know More on Scoville Scale.
   

How to spell "Chilli "?

Christopher Columbus called chilli as 'pepper.' The misnomer pepper was used because Christopher thought it belonged to black pepper family.

India - Chilli, also called Mirchi in Hindi
In India, it is spelled as chilli. However, the common term used for chilli is 'Mirchi' in Hindi language.
America - Chile and Chile pepper
The term 'chile' is not to be confused with the country Chile. The Americans followed the Spanish spelling 'chile.' Although its fruit is known as aji. Chili is popular too, but it is often confused with the official state dish of Texas 'chilli'.
Europe - Chili , Chilli
Chili (chili con carne) is commonly used in European countries. Although in Oxford English Dictionary, it has the spelling chilli.

There are other names used to refer the fruit of capsicum plant like hot pepper commonly called as chile pepper, bell pepper commonly known as capsicum pepper.

Origin of Chilli

Chilli has been part of human's gourmet food from the ancient times. The capsicum plant is indigenous to Central and South America . It was used from 7000 BC in Mexico and was cultivated from 3500 BC. Chilli was known to the western world when Christopher Columbus discovered American in 1493. Today, chilli is available in different shapes, sizes and colors all over the world. Chilli has been an important culinary spice to be included in different cuisines like Italian food, Mexican food, Chinese food, French food, Japanese Food, and Indian food. Chilli was used in variety of forms like green chile sauce, salsas, red chile sauce, chilli powder...> Read More.

Chilli FAQs