All Chili Pepper Articles: Growing, Cooking and Varieties

Types of Chili Peppers: A Guide to Varieties, Heat and Flavor

by Roxie

Colorful harvest array of fresh chili peppers showing varied species, colors, and shapes

Explore popular types of chili peppers, from sweet and mild varieties to superhot pods. Learn botanical species, heat levels, and cooking uses.

What Makes Chili Peppers Hot? Genetics, Stress and Growing Conditions

by Roxie

A gloved hand uses a paring knife to indicate the pale placenta of a halved ripe red chili pepper on dark slate, showing where capsaicin is concentrated

Learn what makes chili peppers hot, from genetics and ripeness to plant stress and growing conditions. Explains capsaicin, the Scoville scale, and chili heat.

Jalapeño Peppers (Capsicum annuum): Origin, Heat, Growing and Cooking

by Roxie

Single mature glossy dark green jalapeño pepper pod hanging on a living garden plant with subtle corking lines

Jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum): 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, origin in Xalapa, how to grow from seed, harvest with corking, pickle, dry, and cook with them.

Carolina Reaper World Record: Its Decade as the Hottest Pepper

by Roxie

Ripe red Carolina Reaper beside a silver teaspoon on charcoal slate

The Carolina Reaper world record explained: its 2013 Guinness title, Pepper X succession, breeding history, growing basics, and safe kitchen handling.

The Scoville Scale Explained: What Pepper Heat Levels Really Mean

by Roxie

Single chili pepper pod in a white porcelain dish with a small laboratory pipette in soft warm studio light

A practical guide to the Scoville scale and Scoville Heat Units: how pepper heat is measured, why numbers are ranges, and what they mean for cooks.

What Is Capsaicin? How the Compound That Makes Chilies Hot Works

by Roxie

Macro cross-section of a halved ripe orange habanero pepper showing inner placenta and capsaicin resin droplets on dark slate

Learn what capsaicin is, how it binds to TRPV1 receptors to trigger heat, why birds cannot feel it, and how to safely relieve chili burn.

Cayenne Peppers (Capsicum annuum): Origin, Heat, Growing and Drying

by Roxie

Long, thin red cayenne peppers in a market basket at Cayenne, French Guiana, with green unripe pods beside red ripe ones

Cayenne peppers (Capsicum annuum) are long, thin red pods with 30,000 to 50,000 SHU of heat. Origin, growing, drying, storage and cooking.

The Hottest Chili Peppers in the World, Ranked

by Roxie

Black nitrile gloved hand holding a mature contorted Pepper X chili pod between finger and thumb against grey stone

A source-led guide to the hottest chili peppers in the world, separating the current Guinness record holder from historical record holders and documented superhots.

Cooking with Chili: An Overview

by Roxie

A bowl of finished chili with sour cream and cheese, surrounded by fresh chiles, lime, and cilantro on a wooden table

A practical overview of how to cook with chili, from building a classic beef chili pot to cooking methods, serving ideas, and storing leftovers.

How to Grow Red Chili Peppers: A Complete Guide

by Roxie

A mature red chili pepper plant in a terracotta pot on a sunlit wooden patio, glossy red peppers ready to pick

A practical, step-by-step guide to growing red chili peppers at home from seed to harvest, both inside and in containers.