Cayenne Pepper

The capital of French Guiana on Cayenne Island gives its name to the spice that originated there. Usually sold in powdered form, cayenne pepper is the ground dried cayenne, arbol or guajillo chilli, which are all South American varieties. The cayenne chilli, which tastes acidic and tart, is closely related to the Asian bird’s-eye chilli and has the same level of intense heat. A familiar ingredient in South American, Caribbean and some European cooking, cayenne pepper is used in curries, cheese dishes, and white sauces that include smoked fish, oysters and prawns. Available: widely.