| Description |
The chilli pepper (from Nahuatl chīlli) is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum which are members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Chilli peppers are widely used in many cuisines as a spice to add heat to dishes. The substances that give chilli peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically are capsaicin and related compounds known as capsaicinoids.
Chilli peppers originated in Mexico. After the Columbian Exchange, many cultivars of chilli pepper spread across the world, used for both food and traditional medicine.
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