The fruit of the plant that belongs to the genus Capsicum is called chili.
Confusion often arises when trying to name the fruits of plants that belong to the Capsicum genus. Depending on the region, we can find references to chili , pepper , chili or bell pepper : in all cases, the idea refers to the same fruit.
In the specific case of the term ají , it comes from the Taíno language , which was spoken by pre-Columbian settlers on the American continent. Specifically, it is established that it derives from the Taíno haxi . Ají is a word that is used mainly in South America to name the berry of the Capsicum plants.
Chili consumption
Humans began to consume chili pepper several millennia before Christ . When Europeans discovered this fruit in America , they called it capsicum because of its spicy flavor, which reminded them of pepper. When brought to the European continent, chili soon became popular and began to be part of various gastronomic preparations.
There have been numerous references to chili peppers for centuries. A good example of this is that in Cristóbal Colón 's “Board Log” , which Bartolomé de las Casas was later responsible for transcribing, there is already talk of that aforementioned product. Specifically, it seems that the annotation of January 15, 1493 mentions that chili pepper is very abundant on the island of Hispaniola and that it is widely eaten. What's more, it is even clarified that it is so important that they add it to all meals.
There are several varieties of chili.
Various varieties
There are different varieties of chili. Capsicum annuum is known as sweet chili or bell pepper . Capsicum baccatum is the crystal chili or yellow chili .
Other widely used chili peppers are Capsicum chinense ( lime chili ), Capsicum pubescens ( locoto or rocoto ) and Capsicum frutescens ( paprica or tabasco ).
Curiosities linked to chili
There are many curiosities about the chili pepper that are worth knowing, especially highlighting the following:
– The Aztecs seem to have used it to deal with toothaches. And it was considered that it did a wonderful job as an analgesic.
– If in many areas near the Tropics chili peppers have been consumed for years and years, it is because it is believed that it helps eliminate bacteria that those who lived there had to deal with.
– After Christopher Columbus brought chili pepper to Spain , Portugal and Asia also began to use it. And they still do it today.
– The different studies that have been carried out on chili pepper have shown that it is a great source of antioxidants as well as minerals and vitamins.
– In addition, the intake of this product is considered to be useful in reducing the risks of suffering from heart disease.
Multiple recipes
There are multiple recipes that are made with chili. In Peru , for example, a type of stew made with yellow chili pepper is called ají.
Among these stews, one of the most famous is ají de gallina which, as its name indicates, contains chicken meat and broth, as well as chili and bread. Tuna chili and egg chili are other dishes of Peruvian cuisine.