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The addictive chili pepper
How dull many of the world’s spectacular cuisines would be, if not for the versatile chili pepper! This fiery fruit always been more than just a food, thanks to the chemical capsaicin, found in the soft white membranes around the seeds. The Mayans threw chilies at their enemies in battle, and modern “Pepper spray,” used by many police departments, has the same chemical inside. The chemical causes serious pain, especially to the eyes or nose.
It is the pain they cause, not the flavor, that makes chilies so popular. The brain reacts to the pain by releasing chemicals called endorphins into the bloodstream. These natural painkillers cause a sense of happiness and satisfaction, and they are quite addictive. This is why some people are so fond of hot, spicy foods. Thais eat the most chilies per person, closely followed by Koreans.
Of course, not all chilies are equally hot. Researchers compare them using the Scoville Heat Unit ( SHU ) scale, developed in 1912. The common bell pepper ( red, yellow or green ) has a Scoville rating of zero. Jalapenos, popular in Mexico and America, are relatively mild, rating from 2500 to 5000. But the habanero takes the prize, packing over 200000 SHUs of heat. Handel with extreme care!
How dull many of the world’s spectacular cuisines would be, if not for the versatile chili pepper! This fiery fruit always been more than just a food, thanks to the chemical capsaicin, found in the soft white membranes around the seeds. The Mayans threw chilies at their enemies in battle, and modern “Pepper spray,” used by many police departments, has the same chemical inside. The chemical causes serious pain, especially to the eyes or nose.
It is the pain they cause, not the flavor, that makes chilies so popular. The brain reacts to the pain by releasing chemicals called endorphins into the bloodstream. These natural painkillers cause a sense of happiness and satisfaction, and they are quite addictive. This is why some people are so fond of hot, spicy foods. Thais eat the most chilies per person, closely followed by Koreans.
Of course, not all chilies are equally hot. Researchers compare them using the Scoville Heat Unit ( SHU ) scale, developed in 1912. The common bell pepper ( red, yellow or green ) has a Scoville rating of zero. Jalapenos, popular in Mexico and America, are relatively mild, rating from 2500 to 5000. But the habanero takes the prize, packing over 200000 SHUs of heat. Handel with extreme care!
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