Peppers

Native to the Americas, this heat-loving member of the nightshade family is now cultivated worldwide for its flavor, versatility, and culinary uses. Capsicum traveled east to Europe by way of the Spanish conquistadors in the same way many other crops did. When Europeans encountered capsicum fruits, they called them peppers, because like black pepper (of the genus Piper, native to India), they can be spicy.

Whether you call them capsicums, peppers, chilis, or chiles, these fruits trace back to the genus Capsicum. Within this genus, there are five domesticated and cultivated species: