A word on chili peppers

As anyone who has ever been to the tropics and subtropics can testify, the hotter a place seems to get, the more the locals love to eat chili peppers! You would think it was counter-productive; eating hot, spicy food when the temperature is already blisteringly hot, but the theory behind eating food with chilies in it is to make you sweat and therefore cool your body temperature down.

Chili peppers are all members of the capsicum family and are therefore related to the bell pepper, that sweet
and innocent fruit that comes in red, yellow, orange (yum) and green (not so yum) varieties, and is a favourite in salads and as a dip. Their rather mischievous cousins are a whole different kettle of fish.

Jalapenos, Scotch Bonnets, habaneros, Madame Jeanettes, African bird's eyes, Adjumas - the names sound quite innocent and cute, but don't be fooled! These babies will knock your socks off!

Be warned! Handle with care!

DID YOU KNOW?

The measuring unit for testing the heat of peppers is called the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU). It is measured by adding an extract from the chili to a solution of sugar and water. The amount of sugar solution required to make the heat of the pepper undetectable is the Scoville rating. A bell pepper has no heat and therefore a SHU of 0, while many habanero peppers average between 150,000 and 300,000 SHU!!!

DID YOU KNOW?

The current official hottest chili in the world, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion(!) has an SHU of 1,500,000 to 2,000,000!!! 

DID YOU KNOW?

The active ingredient in chillies, capsaican, is extracted and used by police forces and as a means of self-defence, as "pepper spray".

DID YOU KNOW?

The seeds and white membrane are the hottest part of the pepper, and should be removed first (carefully) if you don't want volcano like temperatures in your food!

DID YOU KNOW?

Birds are not affected by the heat of chili peppers in the way humans are, and in tropical countries it is possible to see parrots munching away on whole peppers! I guess that's one way to keep them quiet!!! 

Enjoy!!!