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.

🇨🇳 ChinaHainan yellow lantern chili海南黃燈籠椒 A bright yellow Capsicum chinense cultivar from Hainan Island known for its intense heat and high yield.Chilli · Hot and fiery 🇰🇷 South KoreaCheongyang chili pepper청양고추 A medium-sized Korean cultivar of Capsicum annuum with 10,000 Scoville heat units.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇧🇷 BrazilCapsicum flexuosum A tiny, mildly pungent wild chili native to southern Brazil.Chilli · Hot and fiery 🇵🇪 PeruAjí amarillo A golden-orange Peruvian chili with fruity notes and moderate heatChilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow 🇧🇷 Brazil and 2 moreCapsicum parvifolium A small-leaved wild chili shrub from northern South AmericaChilli · Hot and fiery

🇲🇽 MexicoSerrano pepper A hot Mexican chili from mountain regions, used fresh in salsas and sauces.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇮🇳 IndiaEdayur chilliഎടയൂർ മുളക് A local Kerala cultivar with a GI tag, used for sun-dried curd chillies.Chilli · Hot and fiery 🇧🇷 BrazilCapsicum recurvatum A wild nightshade chili that thrives in the humid forests of Brazil.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreCapsicum frutescens A small, wild chili species with erect berries, native to the Americas and widely grown in tropical regions.Chilli · Hot and fiery 🇮🇳 IndiaNaga Mircha A wrinkled red chilli from Nagaland with extreme heat and a fruity aroma.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇦🇷 Argentina and 3 moreCapsicum chacoense A wild South American chilli known for its intense heat and compact shrub form.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇵🇪 Peru and 1 moreCapsicum cardenasiiulupica A wild Andean chilli with white and purple flowers, known as ulupica.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇮🇳 IndiaKashmiri red chilliकश्मीरी लाल मिर्च A mild Capsicum annuum cultivar prized for its deep red colour and low heat.Chilli · Earthy and deep

🇲🇽 MexicoTabasco pepper A hot chili cultivar from Mexico, prized for its bright red fruit and role in famous sauces.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreJalapeño A medium-sized Capsicum annuum cultivar from Mexico known for its green pods and moderate heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep

Chillies and pods