Why are chillies so hot?

The hottest part of a chilli is not the seeds, as many people think, but the white flesh that houses the seeds, known as the placenta. But why did chillies evolve to be hot in the first place? Most scientists believe capsaicin acts mainly as a deterrent against would-be mammal predators such as rodents. read more

So those tears are actually tears of joy. Not all peppers pack the same punch. In 1912, chemist Wilbur Scoville developed a measure of the “hotness” of a chili pepper called the Scoville Organoleptic Test. read more

Scientists have discovered why chillies are so hot. They say the burning taste is an evolutionary ploy to stop mammals eating the pods and destroying the seeds. However, birds, which tolerate the peppery taste, eat the fruits and disperse the seeds far and wide. read more

So if you find chili peppers too mild, try one of the latter varieties or the new Bhut Jolokia at a modest 855,000 to one million units. Factors for Chili Peppers Not Getting Hot Chilies require plenty of heat, water and sunlight. read more