Chilli

Chili pepper is a familiar name for many of the hottest of the types of pepper. The Aztec word “chili” means red. Therefore, we can safely say that red pepper and chili denote the same species. Capsicum chili belongs to annual herbaceous plants, with a bush height of up to 65 cm.

The fruits are berries of various shapes and sizes:

• oblong or long-fruited;
• round (cherry);
• small-fruited.

There are also several varieties of chili peppers. Each has its own aroma and degree of pungency. The sharpness of chili pepper does not depend on the color of the fruit, which can be not only red, but also green, yellow, orange, black. Only a high percentage of the burning alkaloid capsaicin gives chili a special spiciness. It is considered the most burning, sharpest and brightest among its brethren.

properties of chili pepper

Fans of this species are lovers of spicy food. Those who prefer softer dishes or have health problems treat it with some degree of caution. Among the useful properties of hot peppers, it is worth highlighting:

1. Presence of capsaicin. In moderation, this component stimulates the production of mucus in the body. This contributes to the protection of the mucous membranes, the normalization of digestive processes. Well raises the defenses in the winter, in Asian countries is a reliable means of preventing poisoning.
2. Plenty of vitamins and nutrients. Proper use of a spicy product will help maintain a supply of nutrients, especially in the off-season. He is considered the champion in the content of ascorbic acid.
3. Hot Peppers Help Reduce Salt Intake. After all, salt interrupts the spicy taste that hot chili peppers give to dishes. Recent studies by scientists confirm the benefits of using the product for patients with diabetes. But, you can include an acute additive in your diet only after consulting a doctor.

In addition, like any product, eating chili peppers has a negative side:

1. Diseases of the digestive tract, kidneys is the reason to abandon the piquant taste of pepper. It will not bring harm to a healthy body, but in case of violations one should be careful.
2. Be sure to be very careful when eating and cooking. If pepper juice gets on the mucous membrane of the eye, this can lead to very unpleasant consequences.

In other cases, hot chili peppers are a welcome guest on the table of lovers of Mexican and Latin American cuisine.

Types of the famous vegetable

Among the most famous are the following varieties of chili peppers:

Habanero variety

A popular variety with heart-shaped fruits. Pods are found mainly in orange or red, but there are interesting exceptions – white, pink. Habanero lovers note the variety’s unusual floral aroma. The sharpest part of the pods are the seeds. Mostly the berries are used in dried form. In addition to cooking, they are widely used in cosmetology.

Variety Jalapeño

Hot green chili pepper. The fruits are usually harvested until they are ripe, but have reached a length of 8 cm. It is considered the smallest of the chili varieties. Green peppercorns are much better than red peppercorns, so jalapenos are not allowed to fully ripen. Refers to medium spicy peppers. If you need a milder taste, then remove the seeds and use only the pulp of the berries in dishes. It is the chili pepper seeds that give the variety its pungency. Often used for the preparation of medicinal tinctures.

Serrano variety

It also has an original fruit shape – they resemble a bullet, have a very small size – only 4 cm. The pods are light green at first, and turn red as they ripen. Thin partitions inside the pods reduce the pungency of the pepper, so it is more often used in cooking. To further reduce the pungency of the variety, partitions and seeds should be removed.

Poblano variety

Not the hottest chili. The fruits are dark green in color and heart-shaped with a flattened tip. In mature ripeness, they acquire a dark red hue, but it is green berries that are used more. Not very hot taste allows you to use peppers for stuffing. Suitable for canning and freezing.

Variety Pasilla

It has a smoky mild aroma and a pleasant taste that is used in cooking. With its addition, various sauces, seasonings, marinades are prepared. The medium heat makes Pasilla peppers very popular.

Sort Anaheim

The peel of the variety is green, which is a distinctive feature. The second quality that distinguishes Anaheim from the classic chili pepper is its large size of berries. Weak pungency of the pulp makes the variety very popular.

Main grades

For gardeners, it will be very useful to know that red and green chili peppers are quite unpretentious to growing conditions. Many amateurs get a good harvest on the windowsill, at home, in the garden and under film cover. The seeds of the culture must be germinated, otherwise you will have to wait for seedlings for a long time – for some varieties for about a month. First, chili seeds are sown for seedlings, and then plants are planted for permanent residence. To ensure good germination, you will have to monitor the humidity, temperature of the soil and the environment. Bitter and sweet peppers belong to the nightshade family, so the cultivation technique is very similar to caring for tomatoes. The main thing is not to forget that he loves loose fertile soil, good lighting, warmth and enough air. But it does not tolerate:

• intense heat;
• when water stagnates on the ground;
• low temperatures and frosts;
• water intrusion on leaves and fruits.

If these nuances are taken into account, then growing a bitter vegetable will not be problematic. With the help of a description and a photo, you can choose a chili pepper according to your preferences and the possibilities of the site.

«Habanero Orange»

A very sharp variety. Ripens 95-115 days after planting. Berries in the shape of a flashlight or heart. When dried, they have an apricot flavor that turns into dishes when pepper is added. The size of the pods is 3 cm. The bush is tall, large, up to 90 cm high. The fruits are usually picked with gloves so as not to injure the mucous or skin of the hands. The color of chili fruit is found in both yellow and orange. Grown in seedlings, the plant is productive, beautiful and quite unpretentious. But you still have to follow the basic rules of agricultural technology.

“JALAPENO” (Jalapeno)

Bitter pepper, blooms very profusely, but sheds a lot of flowers. Fruits with a blunt tip up to 8 cm long and weighing up to 50 g. It blooms early, however, the pods do not change their dark green color to the usual red for a long time. The spectacular appearance of the bush and pods gives the variety a special appeal. Good for salads and appetizers due to its mild spiciness. It grows better indoors and on the windowsill, green pods are used – they are considered to be of better quality. The peculiarity of the variety is that it can be grown as a perennial. In winter, it tolerates cool temperatures well (16-20 ° C), and in summer it returns to the garden again. The only one of the sharp varieties with thick fruit walls. Peppers are stuffed, baked, pickled.

“Serrano”

The variety is very similar to Jalapeno, which creates little difficulty for beginner gardeners. The fruits are thick-walled and juicy, similar in taste and pungency. The main differences of Serrano:

• taller bush with dark foliage;
• better yield;
• less fruit cracking.

A good root system of the variety allows the plant to tolerate drought. It grows well under a film shelter, and in the open field it requires protection during a cold snap.

«Anaheim»

Mid-season variety of hot pepper. Harvest can be harvested after 90 days. The bush is well leafy without numerous side shoots. This greatly facilitates the care of the plant and creates good conditions for lighting large fruits. Grow seedlings. Seedlings dive in the phase of two leaves. A week before planting, seedlings are recommended to be fed with complex mineral fertilizer. Planted only with a stable temperature regime – the variety does not tolerate frost.

Such little-known varieties for domestic gardeners as Fresno, Banana, Cayenne, Poblano. You should definitely try to grow one of the wonderful varieties of chili peppers at least once, so that this vegetable becomes a favorite of the whole family.