Chillies and pods of the world

A pod: a chilli, curved, with its cap and stem. Dried, it is kept whole, flaked or ground.

Chillies are the fruit of Capsicum plants from the Americas. Fresh or dried, whole or ground, they bring heat, colour and fruity flavour to cooking on every continent.

What they are

Capsicum species were domesticated in the Americas thousands of years ago. After 1492 the plant spread across the world within a few generations. Heat comes from capsaicin, mostly in the white pith and seeds, and is measured on the Scoville scale. Paprika, cayenne, Kashmiri chilli, ancho and habanero are all chillies.

How they are used

Chillies are eaten fresh, dried, smoked, pickled, or made into pastes and sauces. Dried chillies are toasted, soaked and ground in Mexico, while flakes like Aleppo pepper and gochugaru go straight onto food. A small amount gives colour with little heat, and a large amount gives fire.

Buying and keeping

Dried chillies should be supple and glossy, not brittle and pale. Store them in a closed jar. Ground chilli fades in colour and should be used within months. Wash hands after handling hot chillies and avoid touching the eyes.

Chilli on EveryMasala

The spices written up so far, best known first.

🇺🇸 United StatesCarolina Reaper A gnarled red cultivar of Capsicum chinense bred in South Carolina for extreme heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇸🇾 Syria and 1 moreAleppo pepperفلفل حلبي A moderately spicy, fruity flake from Syria and Turkey, named for the city of Aleppo.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇫🇷 France and 1 moreEspelette pepperpiment d'Espelette A mild Basque chili with sweet, fruity notes and protected origin status.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreFresno chile A medium-sized Capsicum annuum cultivar with a conical shape and bright red skin.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇹🇷 TurkeyUrfa biber A sun-dried and night-wrapped chili from Turkey with a smoky, raisin-like taste.Chilli · Smoky · Sweet and mellow

🇧🇷 Brazil and 2 moreBishop's crown A wrinkled, three-sided Capsicum baccatum cultivar with mild heat and a sweet flavor.Chilli · Sweet and mellow

🇯🇲 JamaicaPimiento A sweet, heart-shaped red chili pepper used for stuffing olives and making cheese spreads.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery

🇸🇷 SurinameMadame Jeanette A fruity, very hot chili cultivar from Suriname with a reddish-yellow skin.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreChimayó pepper A prized New Mexico chile cultivar known for its sweet, smoky flavor and twisted dried pods.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Smoky

🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreBig Jim pepper A large, mild New Mexico chile cultivar developed in the United States for green roasting.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery

🇮🇳 IndiaByadagi chilliಬ್ಯಾಡಗಿ ಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ A deep red, mild cultivar from Karnataka prized for its colour and oleoresin.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreCapsicum annuum A flowering plant producing berries of many colors and heat levels, from sweet bell peppers to fiery chilies.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇪🇸 SpainPiquillo pepperpimientos del piquillo A sweet, mild red chili cultivar from Northern Spain, prized for its thick flesh and gentle heat.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Warm and sweet-spiced

Chillies and pods