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Capsicum

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This article is about a genus of plant. For the non-hot varieties, see Sweet pepper. For the hot varieties, see chili pepper. For the heat simulating chemical in Chili pepper, see Capsaicin.

Capsicum
Fruit and longitudinal section (Bell pepper)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Solanales
Family:
Solanaceae
Subfamily:
Solanoideae
Tribe:
Capsiceae
Genus:
Capsicum

Species

See text[2]

Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years. In modern times, it is cultivated worldwide, and has become a key element in many regional cuisines. In addition to use as spices and food vegetables, capsicum has also found use in medicines.

The fruit of Capsicum plants have a variety of names depending on place and type. The piquant (spicy) variety are commonly called chili peppers, or simply "chilies". The large mild form is called red pepper, green pepper or bell pepper in North America, peppers in Britain, and New Zealand, and typically just "capsicum" in Australia, and India. The fruit is called paprika in some other countries (although paprika can also refer to the powdered spice made from various capsicum fruit).

The generic name is derived from the Greek word κάπτω (kapto), meaning "to bite" or "to swallow."[3] The name "pepper" came into use because of their similar flavour to the condiment black pepper, Piper nigrum, although there is no botanical relationship with this plant, or with Sichuan pepper. The original Mexican term, chilli (now chile in Mexico) came from the Nahuatl word chilli or xilli, referring to a larger Capsicum variety cultivated at least since 3000 BC, as evidenced by remains found in pottery from Puebla and Oaxaca.[4]

Capsaicin in capsicum

Further information: Capsaicin

The fruit of most species of Capsicum contains capsaicin (methyl vanillyl nonenamide), a lipophilic chemical that can produce a strong burning sensation (pungency or spiciness) in the mouth of the unaccustomed eater. Most mammals find this unpleasant, whereas birds are unaffected.[5][6] The secretion of capsaicin protects the fruit from consumption by mammals while the bright colors attract birds that will disperse the seeds.

Capsaicin is present in large quantities in the placental tissue (which holds the seeds), the internal membranes and, to a lesser extent, the other fleshy parts of the fruits of plants in the genus Capsicum. Contrary to popular belief[citation needed], the seeds themselves do not produce any capsaicin, although the highest concentration of capsaicin can be found in the white pith around the seeds.[7]

The amount of capsaicin in the fruit of Capsicums is highly variable and dependent on genetics and environment, giving almost all types of Capsicums varied amounts of perceived heat. The only Capsicum without capsaicin is the bell pepper,[8] a cultivar of Capsicum annuum, which has a zero rating on the Scoville scale. The lack of capsaicin in bell peppers is due to a recessive gene that eliminates capsaicin and, consequently, the "hot" taste usually associated with the rest of the Capsicum family.[9]

Chili peppers are of great importance in Native American medicine, and capsaicin is used in modern medicine—mainly in topical medications—as a circulatory stimulant and analgesic. In more recent times, an aerosol extract of capsaicin, usually known as capsicum or pepper spray, has become widely used by police forces as a non-lethal means of incapacitating a person, and in a more widely dispersed form for riot control, or by individuals for personal defence.

Although black pepper and Sichuan pepper cause similar burning sensations, they are caused by different substances—piperine and hydroxy-alpha sanshool, respectively.

Cuisine

Chili peppers

Capsicum fruits and peppers can be eaten raw or cooked. Those used in cooking are generally varieties of the C. annuum and C. frutescens species, though a few others are used as well. They are suitable for stuffing with fillings such as cheese, meat or rice.

They are also frequently used both chopped and raw in salads, or cooked in stir-fries or other mixed dishes. They can be sliced into strips and fried, roasted whole or in pieces, or chopped and incorporated into salsas or other sauces, of which they are often a main ingredient.

They can be preserved in the form of a jam,[10] or by drying, pickling or freezing. Dried peppers may be reconstituted whole, or processed into flakes or powders. Pickled or marinated peppers are frequently added to sandwiches or salads. Frozen peppers are used in stews, soups, and salsas. Extracts can be made and incorporated into hot sauces.

The Spanish conquistadores soon became aware of the culinary properties of chilli and brought it back to Europe, together with cocoa, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tobacco, maize, beans and turkeys. They also brought it to the Spanish Philipinnes colonies, whence it spread to Asia. The Portuguese brought them to their African and Asiatic possessions like India.

All the varieties were appreciated, but the hot ones are particularly appreciated because they can enliven otherwise monotonous diets. This was of some importance during dietary restrictions for religious reasons, like Lent in Christian countries.

Spanish cuisine soon benefited from the discovery of chiles in the New World, and it would be very difficult to untangle Spanish cooking from chiles, garlic and olive oil. Ground chiles, or paprika, hot or otherwise, are a key ingredient in chorizo, which is then called picante (if hot chilli are added) or dulce (if otherwise). Paprika is also an important ingredient in rice dishes, and plays a definitive role in squid Galician style (pulpo a la gallega). Chopped chilli are used in fish or lamb dishes like ajoarriero or chilindrón. Pisto is a vegetarian stew with chilies and zucchini as main ingredients. They can also be added, finely chopped, to gazpacho as a garnish. In some regions bacon is salted and dusted in paprika for preservation. Cheese can also be rubbed with paprika to lend it flavour and colour. Dried round chilli called ñoras are used for "arroz a banda".

Crushed red pepper

According to Richard Pankhurst, C. frutescens (known as barbaré) was so important to the national cuisine of Ethiopia, at least as early as the 19th century, "that it was cultivated extensively in the warmer areas wherever the soil was suitable." Although it was grown in every province, barbaré was especially extensive in Yejju, "which supplied much of Showa as well as other neighbouring provinces." He mentions the upper Golima river valley as being almost entirely devoted to the cultivation of this plant, where it was harvested year round.[11]

In 2005, a poll of 2,000 people revealed the capsicum pepper to be Britain's 4th favourite culinary vegetable.[12]

In Hungary, sweet yellow peppers – along with tomatoes – are the main ingredient of lecsó.

In Bulgaria, South Serbia and Macedonia, peppers are very popular, too. They can be eaten in salads, like Shopska Salata; fried and then covered with a dip of tomato paste, onions, garlic, and parsley; or stuffed with a variety of products—like minced meat and rice, beans, or cottage cheese and eggs. Peppers are also the main ingredient in the traditional tomato and pepper dip—lyutenitsa and ajvar. They are in the base of different kinds of pickled vegetables dishes—turshiya.

Peppers are also used widely in Italian cuisine and the hot species are used all around the southern part of Italy as a common spice (sometimes served with olive oil). Capsicum peppers are used in many dishes; they can be cooked by themselves in a variety of ways (roasted, fried, deepfried) and are a fundamental ingredient for some delicatessen specialities, like Nduja.

Capsicums are also used extensively in Sri Lankan cuisine as side dishes.[13]

The Maya and Aztec people of Central America used Capsicum fruit in cocoa drinks as a flavouring.[14]

Capsicum is also very delicious when served in a salad accompanied by cucumber, mixed beans, chicken and spinach with sweet chilli sauce to bring out the flavour.

Species and varieties

Red peppers in Cachi (Argentina) made air dry before being processed into powder.
File:Peppermix.jpg
An arrangement of jalapeño, banana, cayenne, chili, and habanero peppers
Main article: List of Capsicum cultivars

Capsicum consists of approximately 20–27 species,[15] five of which are domesticated: C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, and C. pubescens .[16] Phylogenetic relationships between species were investigated using biogeographical,[17] morphological,[18] chemosystematic,[19] hybridization,[20] and genetic[15] data. Fruits of Capsicum can vary tremendously in colour, shape, and size both between and within species, which has led to confusion over the relationships between taxa.[21] Chemosystematic studies helped distinguish the difference between varieties and species. For example, C. baccatum var. baccatum had the same flavonoids as C. baccatum var. pendulum, which led researchers to believe that the two groups belonged to the same species.[19]

Many varieties of the same species can be used in many different ways; for example, C. annuum includes the "bell pepper" variety, which is sold in both its immature green state and its red, yellow or orange ripe state. This same species has other varieties as well, such as the Anaheim chiles often used for stuffing, the dried ancho chile used to make chili powder, the mild-to-hot jalapeño, and the smoked, ripe jalapeño, known as a chipotle.

Most of the capsaicin in a pungent (hot) pepper is concentrated in blisters on the epidermis of the interior ribs (septa) that divide the chambers of the fruit to which the seeds are attached.[22] A study on capsaicin production in fruits of C. chinense showed that capsaicinoids are produced only in the epidermal cells of the interlocular septa of pungent fruits, that blister formation only occurs as a result of capsaicinoid accumulation, and that pungency and blister formation are controlled by a single locus, Pun1, for which there exist at least two recessive alleles that result in non-pungency of C. chinense fruits.[23]

The amount of capsaicin in hot peppers varies significantly between varieties, and is measured in Scoville heat units (SHU). The world's current hottest known pepper as rated in SHU is the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, which has been measured at over 2,009,231 SHU.

Species list[24][25]

Formerly placed here

Genetics

Most Capsicum species are 2n=24. A few of the non-domesticated species are 2n=32. Some detailed genetic information can be found in this article.[26]

Breeding

There are several breeding programs ongoing by corporations and at universities. New Mexico State University has released several varieties in the last several years. Cornell has worked to develop regionally adapted varieties.Many types of peppers have been bred for heat,size, and yield.

Synonyms and common names

Capsicum annuum cultivars

The name given to the Capsicum fruits varies between English-speaking countries.

In Australia, New Zealand and India, heatless species are called "capsicums" while hot ones are called "chilli"/"chillies" (double L). Pepperoncini are also known as "sweet capsicum". The term "bell peppers" is almost never used, although C. annuum and other varieties which have a bell-shape and are fairly hot, are often called "bell chillies".

In the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, the heatless varieties are commonly known simply as "peppers" (or more specifically "green peppers", "red peppers", etc.) while the hot ones are "chilli"/"chillies" (double L) or "chilli peppers".

In the United States and Canada, the common heatless species is referred to as "bell peppers", "sweet peppers", "red/green/etc. peppers", or simply "peppers", while the hot species are collectively called "chile"/"chiles", "chili"/"chilies", or "chili"/"chile peppers" (one L only), "hot peppers", or named as a specific variety (e.g., banana pepper).

In Polish and in Hungarian, the term "papryka" and "paprika" (respectively) is used for all kinds of capsicum peppers (the sweet vegetable, and the hot spicy) as well as for dried and ground spice made from them (named paprika in both U.S. English and Commonwealth English). Also fruit and spice can be attributed as "papryka ostra" (hot pepper) or "papryka słodka" (sweet pepper). The term "pieprz" (pepper) instead means only grained or ground black pepper (incl. its green, white, and red forms) but not capsicum. Sometimes the hot capsicum spice is also called "chilli".

In Italy and the Italian- and German-speaking parts of Switzerland, the sweet varieties are called "peperone" and the hot varieties "peperoncino" (literally "small pepper"). In French, capsicum is called "poivron". In German, capsicum is called "Paprika" (which may also refer to bell peppers) or "Chili"; in Dutch, this word is also used exclusively for bell peppers, whereas "chilli" is reserved for powders and hot pepper variants are referred to as "Spaanse pepers" (Spanish peppers). In Switzerland however, the condiment powder made from capsicum is called "paprika" (German language regions) and "paprica" (French and Italian language region).

In Spanish-speaking countries there are many different names for each variety and preparation. In Mexico the term chile is used for "hot peppers" while the heatless varieties are called pimiento (the masculine form of the word for pepper, which is pimienta). Several other countries, such as Chile, whose name is unrelated, Perú, Puerto Rico, and Argentina, use ají. In Spain, heatless varieties are called pimiento and hot varieties guindilla. Other jocular names are given to hot varieties like "alegrías riojanas" (jokes from La Rioja, a province well known for its pepperoni plantions) or "langostinos de Ibarra" (prawns from Ibarra). Also, in Argentina and Spain, the variety C. chacoense is commonly known as "putaparió", a slang expression equivalent to "damn it", probably due to its extra-hot flavour. In Indian English, the word "capsicum" is used exclusively for Capsicum annuum. All other varieties of hot capsicum are called chilli. In northern India and Pakistan, Capsicum annuum is also commonly called "Shimla Mirch" in the local language and as "Kodai Mozhagai" in Tamil which roughly translates to "Umbrella Chilli" due to its appearance. Shimla incidentally is a popular hill-station in India (and "Mirch" means chilli in local languages).

In Japanese, tōgarashi (唐辛子, トウガラシ "Chinese mustard") refers to hot chili peppers, and particularly a spicy powder made from them which is used as a condiment, while bell peppers are called pīman (ピーマン, from the French piment or the Spanish pimiento).

Pictures of capsicum cultivars

See also

References

  1. ^ "Capiscum L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Species records of Capiscum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  3. ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. Vol. 1 A-C. CRC Press. p. 431. ISBN 978-0-8493-2675-2.
  4. ^ Gil-Jurado, A. T., Il senso del chile e del piccante: dalla traduzione culturale alla rappresentazione visiva in (G. Manetti, ed.), Semiofood: Communication and Culture of Meal, Centro Scientifico Editore, Torino, Italy, 2006:34–58
  5. ^ Mason, J. R. (1991). "Taxon-specific differences in responsiveness to capsaicin and several analogues: Correlates between chemical structure and behavioral aversiveness". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 17 (12): 2539–2551. doi:10.1007/BF00994601. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Norman, D. M. (1992). "Capsaicin effects on consumption of food by Cedar Waxwings and House Finches". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 104: 549–551. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ New Mexico State University – College of Agriculture and Home Economics (2005). "Chile Information – Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 4 May 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2007.
  8. ^ http://www.chiliwonders.com/chili.scoville.htm
  9. ^ "The World's Healthies Foods". Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  10. ^ http://www.askgarden.com/when-life-gives-you-peppers-use-this-pepper-jam-recipe/
  11. ^ Pankhurst, Richard (1968). Economic History of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Selassie I University Press. pp. 193–194.
  12. ^ Wainwright, Martin (23 May 2005). "Onions come top for British palates". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  13. ^ Unknown, Unknown. "Sri Lankan Cuisine". SBS Food. SBS. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  14. ^ Mitzewich, John. "10 Foods America Gave to the World". About.com Food Guide. About.com. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  15. ^ a b Walsh, B.M.; Hoot, S.B. (2001). "Phylogenetic Relationships of Capsicum (Solanaceae) Using DNA Sequences from Two Noncoding Regions: The Chloroplast atpB-rbcL Spacer Region and Nuclear waxy Introns" (– Scholar search). International Journal of Plant Sciences. 162 (6): 1409–1418. doi:10.1086/323273. Retrieved 20 December 2007. {{cite journal}}: External link in |format= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) [dead link] [dead link]
  16. ^ Heiser Jr, C.B.; Pickersgill, B. (1969). "Names for the Cultivated Capsicum Species (Solanaceae)". Taxon. 18 (3). Taxon, Vol. 18, No. 3: 277–283. doi:10.2307/1218828. JSTOR 1218828.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Tewksbury, J.J.; Manchego, C.; Haak, D.C.; Levey, D.J. (2006). "Where did the Chili Get its Spice? Biogeography of Capsaicinoid Production in Ancestral Wild Chili Species" (PDF). Journal of Chemical Ecology. 32 (3): 547–564. doi:10.1007/s10886-005-9017-4. PMID 16572297. Retrieved 20 December 2007.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Eshbaugh, W.H. (1970). "A Biosystematic and Evolutionary Study of Capsicum baccatum (Solanaceae)". Brittonia. 22 (1). Brittonia, Vol. 22, No. 1: 31–43. doi:10.2307/2805720. JSTOR 2805720.
  19. ^ a b Ballard, R.E.; McClure, J.W.; Eshbaugh, W.H.; Wilson, K.G. (1970). "A Chemosystematic Study of Selected Taxa of Capsicum". American Journal of Botany. 57 (2). American Journal of Botany, Vol. 57, No. 2: 225–233. doi:10.2307/2440517. JSTOR 2440517.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Pickersgill, B. (1971). "Relationships Between Weedy and Cultivated Forms in Some Species of Chili Peppers (Genus capsicum)". Evolution. 25 (4). Evolution, Vol. 25, No. 4: 683–691. doi:10.2307/2406949. JSTOR 2406949.
  21. ^ Eshbaugh, W.H. (1975). "Genetic and Biochemical Systematic Studies of Chili Peppers (Capsicum-Solanaceae)". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 102 (6). Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, Vol. 102, No. 6: 396–403. doi:10.2307/2484766. JSTOR 2484766.
  22. ^ Zamski, E.;Shoham, O.; Palevitch, D.; Levy, A. (1987). "Ultrastructure of Capsaicinoid-Secreting Cells in Pungent and Nonpungent Red Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Cultivars". Botanical Gazette. 148 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1086/337620. JSTOR 2995376.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Stewart Jr, C.; Mazourek, M.; Stellari, G.M.; O'Connell, M.; Jahn, M. (2007). "Genetic control of pungency in C. chinense via the Pun1 locus". Journal of Experimental Botany. 58 (5): 979. doi:10.1093/jxb/erl243. PMID 17339653. {{cite journal}}: More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "The Plant List".
  25. ^ "Tropicos".
  26. ^ Deyuan Yang, Paul W. Bosland. "The Genes of Capsicum" (PDF). HortScience.
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