By Jennifer A. Wickes Copyright 2002
Chiles are also known as chile peppers, hot peppers and chillis.
History and GeographyChristopher Columbus discovered chiles on his arrival to the New World. Now these peppers from the Capsicum family play an intrical part in the following cuisines: Africa, China, India, Mexico, South America, Spain and Thailand.
VarietiesThere are more than 200 varieties of peppers, each with its own season and degree of heatness. They also vary in size and color. The largest can be as large ar 12 inches, and the smallest as small as ¼ inch! Dried chiles and chile powders are available year round, usually in Latin American and Asian markets.
Examples of some chiles:Anaheim, Ancho, Bird, Caribe, Cascabel, Cayenne, Charleston Hot, Cherry Peppers, Chilaca, Chile Colorado, Chipotle, Fresno, Guajillo, Guero, Habanero, Hungarian Wax, Jalapeño, Jamaican Hot, Mulato, Pasilla, Pepperoncini, Pequín, Pimiento, Poblano, Red Pepper, Ristra, Santa Fe Grande, Scotch Bonnet, Serrano, Sweet Peppers, Thai Chile, Togarashi.
How To Select Your Chiles
Choose your chile with deep vivid colors. Avoid any chile that is shriveled or has any soft spots. Usually, a larger chile is milder. Most of the heat of a chile is contained in the veins and the seeds. Cooking and freezing does not diminish the heat intensity of a chile, so removing the veins and seeds will greatly help.
A Word of CautionIt is very important to wash your hands after handling these peppers. Your skin and eyes can burn from the juices contained within the peppers. Some people are really sensitive and require gloves while handling chiles. If you burn your mouth from a chile, try eating a piece of bread to reduce the sting. If you do burn your fingers, try soaking your hands in milk or yogurt.
Food and SpicesChocolate, cilantro, coffee, cumin, paprika
Cooking HintIf you are cooking something and it has become too spicy, make it milder by adding noodles or a potato. These will help absorb some of the heat!
Nutritional InformationChiles are cholesterol free, low in sodium and calories. They are high in Vitamins A and C, and a good source of folic acid, potassium and Vitamin E.
Health BenefitsChiles are mostly grown in hot countries, as eating them will help cool your body temperature down by sweating a lot quicker than drinking a cold beverage. This theory has been utilized by native cultures to help bring down a fever. Also, hot chiles can help ease congestion by making your sinuses run, and they help kill bacteria in your body! You can make a paste of 9 parts flour, 1 part olive oil and 1 part cayenne pepper. Add enough water to make a paste. Sandwich this mixture between two cloths and use on arthritic joints.
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