Clear Answers for Common Questions

Jalapeños are a type of hot pepper, also known as Capsicum annuum. Jalapeños appear in traditional South American cuisine and are also popular around the world to add spiciness to dishes. The small green peppers are readily obtainable in most grocery stores, along with a more ...

Peppers can be split into two groups: sweet and hot. The second group may also be referred to as chiles or chili peppers. They are a New World food, first noted by Europeans during Columbus’ voyage to the West Indies. Peppers were also found in abundance across South America, Central ...

Hot peppers are an integral part of the culinary tradition of many nations, appearing in spicy sauces, salsas, marinades, and everything else cooks can imagine. Spicy peppers have their origins in South America and the Caribbean, although they were introduced to Europe along with a variety of other New World ...

A habanero pepper is one of the spiciest types of chili peppers. In Spanish, habanero means "from Havana," and this pepper originally was transported from Cuba to the Yucatán Peninsula. Habaneros are now grown mainly in the Yucatán, as well as in Costa Rica, Belize and ...

The chipotle pepper is a smoked or dried jalapeño pepper that originated in the area surrounding Mexico City. People who lived there before the Aztec civilization are thought to have invented it. The peppers may have been smoked to keep them from rotting, since the jalapeño ...

A datil pepper is a fruit of the genus Capsicum, which also includes bell peppers, jalapenos, habaneros and all other fruits known as peppers. The datil in unique because it is extremely hot, similar to a habanero, but also sweet and fruity. The name is derived from the Spanish for ...

Scoville Heat Units are used to specify of the hotness of food, specifically chili peppers. In 1912, Wilbur Scoville devised a system to determine how hot foods are, using a panel of tasters to provide heat scores for different peppers. Although Wilbur's name is still used for the scale ...

Capsicum is the name of a genus of tropical pepper plants that can grow in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The word "capsicum" also refers to the fruit produced by any of these plants, in particular the dried fruits or peppers that are typically used in cooking or ...

Capsaicin is the chemical compound that makes chili peppers taste hot. It is a skin irritant to humans and animals, and can cause a burning sensation if applied to the skin. Ingredients containing high amounts of capsaicin are widely used as flavorings in spicy cuisines. All members of the pepper ...

Jalapeno peppers are very important part of South American and Central American cuisines. The jalapeno is a small chile pepper that offers hot, spicy flavor to dishes. Jalapenos are almost exclusively red or green. Some of them have patches of each color. In Mexico, the jalapeno has a number of ...

"Hot sauce" as a specific term refers to liquids used as food flavoring which are made using a chile pepper and vinegar. More generally, the term is used to refer to any flavoring for food that adds spice to the meal. There are thousands of brands of hot sauce, made ...

Pepper jelly is exactly what it sounds like: jelly made out of any variety of the fruit known as peppers. Because of the wide variety of flavors found in the Capsicum genus, Solanaceae family, the scientific classification for peppers, this jelly can be found to suit many different tastes. It ...

Pepper spray is a non-lethal weapon designed to spray into the face of an attacker. It affects the mucous membranes, causing capillaries in the eyes to instantaneously dilate to the point of temporary blindness. Tissues lining the bronchial tube also swell, making it difficult for the attacker to get ...

Mace® is a brand name of a non-lethal self-defense spray, manufactured by Mace Security International, headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Although this term is a registered trademark, it's often used to refer to any personal defense pepper spray. Mace Inc. makes several formulas of self ...

Halitosis is the medical term for offensive breath. Halitosis is usually caused by tooth decay, gum problems, smoking, or mild digestive upsets. It can also be a sign of uremia, cirrhosis of the liver, or lung or sinus infections. Someone who as minty acetone-like breath may be a sign ...

Hiccups are caused by uncontrollable muscle spasms in the diaphragm. The phrenic nerve controls the diaphragm, and is directly responsible for these spasms, which force a quick intake of breath, resulting in a hiccuping sound. While generally not dangerous, long-lasting episodes can be related to some serious health conditions ...

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the excessive flow of stomach acid into the esophagus, which can damage the esophagus and other parts of the body. Severe and/or frequent heartburn is the main symptom of this condition. GERD can create harmful complications in the body if left untreated. The esophagus ...

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a broad description of several different stomach ailments. Under the indigestion umbrella are conditions such as acid reflux, heartburn, bloating, and gastritis. Essentially, the condition is the result of consuming too many spicy, fibrous, or fatty foods too quickly. The stomach's acids become ...

Gastritis is an umbrella term used to describe a number of medical conditions characterized by an inflamed stomach lining. Additional symptoms associated include vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, weight loss, abdominal bleeding, blood in the stool or vomit, a feeling of fullness or a burning sensation in the stomach, and excessive ...

Heartburn, also known as bloating, indigestion, dyspepsia, and borborygmus, is a medical condition resulting in chest pain or abdominal discomfort after eating or drinking. Other symptoms of heartburn include a burning sensation or pressure in the area around the breastbone, mild nausea, and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen ...