Chilli Pepper

The chili pepper, or more simply just "chili", is the fruit of the plants from the nightshade family. The term chili in most of the world refers exclusively to the smaller, hot types of capsicum. The mild larger types are called simply pepper or paprika in many European countries. The fruit is eaten raw or cooked for its fiery hot flavour which is concentrated along the top of the pod. The stem end of the pod has glands which produce the capsaicin, which then flows down through the pod. The white pith, that surrounds the seeds, contains the highest concentrations of capsaicin. Removing the seeds and inner membranes is thus effective at reducing the heat of a pod.

Chili peppers and their various cultivars originate in the Americas; they are now grown around the world because of their use as spices or vegetables, but also as a medicine. Currently, India is the largest producer of Chillies with around one million tons per year.