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Chili (chilli, chile) is not a pepper. So what is chili pepper?

04/21/2012 //  by Connie Veneracion

As The Nibble correctly observes:

“Chile pepper” is a misnomer, and the term “pepper” is not used in Latin America.

Unfortunately for me, I am one of those people who have been using the term “chili pepper” without caring how terribly incorrect the phrase is and even while knowing that the chili and the pepper are two different plant species. But the nice thing about learning is that mistakes don’t have to be repeated. Henceforth, if I mean chili, I’ll say chili. And if I mean pepper, I’ll say pepper. No more references to the non-existent chili pepper.

Read how the persistent “chili” misnomer originated.

Category: Kitchen & PantryTag: Cooking Ingredients, Food Trivia

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. dewsi

    04/21/2012 at 4:02 am

    i’m one of those who grew up with ‘chili pepper’ referring to chili…with conviction pa. wow mali pala! :D now i know, too! thanks for sharing what you’ve learned. now i won’t repeat the same mistake again, too.

    • Connie Veneracion

      04/21/2012 at 11:30 am

      “with conviction pa”

      LOL Me too hahahaha

  2. Maritess Julian

    04/21/2012 at 4:52 am

    I am always confused when the recipe calls for “siling Haba.” I tried looking for that silie here in Canada, but could not find it. Is siling haba not too spicy. What is the difference between siling haba and finger chili. Have a nice day. I seem to be having problemss with the question mark on my keyboard. sorry.

    • Connie Veneracion

      04/21/2012 at 11:25 am

      It is finger chili. Not as spicy as bird’s eye.

  3. Serena

    04/21/2012 at 8:09 pm

    I’ve seen some British sources refer to chili peppers/bell peppers as “capsicums,” from the genus name, which seems very reasonable.

    If they were a New World plant, like tomatoes and potatoes, does that mean that Thai cuisine, known for its chilis, used black pepper or Szechuan peppercorns before Columbus’ voyage?

    • Connie Veneracion

      04/21/2012 at 8:52 pm

      Most Asian cuisines have used black pepper for centuries (Szechuan or Sichuan peppercorns are not real peppercorns and they are not hot despite the tingling sensation created inside the mouth). I think it’s possible that Thai cuisine (largely Buddhist before foreign trade) might not have even been distinctively spicy at all prior to the introduction of chilis by Portuguese missionaries in the 17th century.

      • A

        04/22/2012 at 2:35 am

        Arab and Indian traders brought Islam and Buddhism/Hinduism (respectively) to Thailand and the rest of southeast Asia, together with other spices. India does fall under the category of “New World” — that is, countries “discovered” by Europeans.

        Perhaps the Europeans introduced the cultivation of chilis in large quantities (as in plantations to suit large European demand); perhaps chilis were just another backyard crop for locals then.

        Just my guess…

      • Connie Veneracion

        04/22/2012 at 12:48 pm

        According to Western history (biased, of course), it was the Europeans that introduced chilis to India.

  4. David

    06/13/2014 at 12:07 pm

    Thank you for this article. We linked to you on our website! Much love,

    The Chile Bros.

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