| Chillies (also known as chilis and hot peppers) are an | | | | It's only in Western Europe and North America that |
| amazing and extremely versatile spice. Indeed, in | | | | chillies did not begin to make a culinary mark until the |
| some way they are the 'perfect' spice in that they | | | | 19th century. In Eastern Europe a very mild form, |
| confer heat to a dish without affecting the flavour. | | | | paprika, became common and was used more for its |
| Chillies were first described by Christopher Columbus | | | | colouring properties that the heat it afforded. |
| in 1493 (upon his return to Spain) as ají as a | | | | It should be noted just how versatile chilli peppers |
| pepper, which is more valuable than black pepper, | | | | are. As a dried spice, unlike black pepper they lose |
| and all the people eat nothing else, it being very | | | | little of their potency even if stored for a long time. |
| wholesome. But it wasn't until his second voyage of | | | | They give a meal both heat and add a red colour. |
| 1493 that Columbus brought some of this strange | | | | The 'heat' or chillies is painful and as a result it causes |
| fruit back with him. | | | | the brain to produce the pleasure chemical endorphin |
| However, it was the Portuguese, from their | | | | as an antidote. As a result it's possible to have a chilli |
| territories in Brazil who brought chillies to the world. In | | | | 'high' and to become addicted to chillies. |
| the early 1500s Portuguese sailors took the piri-piri | | | | However, chillies are also fruit and in their fresh state |
| chilli to the Cape Verde islands off the African coast | | | | they have a fruity aroma and flavour and, often |
| (and from there to Africa itself) as well as back to | | | | enough, the hotter the chilli the more pronounced the |
| Portugal. Between 1498 and 1549 chillies spread like | | | | fruity aroma is. So, if you do not habitually eat |
| wildfire from East to West. Either travelling with the | | | | habaneros, nagas, Scotch bonnets or other really hot |
| Portuguese to India and the Spice Islands (and | | | | peppers you will not encounter this effect. It should |
| possibly to Japan) or travelling with the caravans of | | | | also be noted that chillies contain a lot of vitamin C. |
| the Silk Road throughout the Arabic world and to | | | | Thus, in diets deficient in protein, especially animal |
| China. | | | | protein they afford a cheap and important dietary |
| Given that it was only the beginning of the 16th | | | | source of vitamin C which helps in the metabolism of |
| century, it's truly amazing that chillies spread so | | | | iron from non-animal sources. This explains why chillies |
| quickly across the globe. Indeed, so successful were | | | | are such an important part of the diet in sub-Saharan |
| these plants in their adopted lands that the British of | | | | Africa and south-east Asia. This is also probably |
| the 18th centuries believed chillies to be native to | | | | another reason why chillies spread and were adopted |
| India and many still (mistakenly) believe the piri-piri to | | | | so quickly during the 16th Century. |
| be native to Africa. | | | | |