Organic cayenne pepper

Let's be clear: Cayenne, a French commune in French Guiana, has never produced chillies, so why is this pepper named after it?

History of Cayenne pepper :

The second belief is that chillies come from Asia, particularly India. Not true.
Peppers come from South America, as do potatoes and tomatoes (and many other plants in the Solanaceae family).

Peppers were discovered and imported to Europe during the Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the West.
Christopher Columbus, who thought he was discovering the Indian continent and its peppers, in fact discovered "only" South America and its chillies!
So it was in August 1498, on his third voyage, that he discovered French Guiana and brought back, among other things, Cayenne peppers.

For centuries, chillies from the American continent crossed the Atlantic to flood Europe and then Asia.
It was the Portuguese who introduced the chilli pepper(s) to India, and its cultivation in the Goa region, then in the south and throughout the country.

In just a few centuries, India has become the world's leading producer of chillies, far ahead of South America, mainly in the Telangana and Karnataka provinces in south-central India.

From Cayenne to Espelette

It's worth noting that chillies were introduced to France in the South West, mainly in a certain commune called Espelette, in the middle of the 17th century. Farmers used chillies to preserve meat, but also for coloring. They soon found the famous chili pepper so dear to Espelette: the Gorria variety.

Pepper species

There are five species of domesticated peppers, recognizable by their flowers, among other things:

• Capsicum annuum: the most widely cultivated species, with varieties such as Jalapeño, Cayenne, Paprika,Ancho and various wax peppers. Flowers are generally white. Some ornamental varieties, such as the purple-flowered Peruvian Purple, are appreciated for their aesthetics rather than their taste.
• Capsicum baccatum: Characterized by white flowers with touches of yellow or green on the petals. These peppers often form large plants exceeding one meter in height. Ajís, typical South American peppers, belong to this species.
• Capsicum chinense: Although its name suggests a Chinese origin, this species also comes from South America. It offers fruit with a distinct apricot flavor, but also some of the most powerful in terms of strength. Tasting should therefore be approached with caution. Famous varieties include Habanero and Bishop's Cap. Plants of this species are slow to germinate and ripen, requiring a warm, humid tropical climate.
• Capsicum frutescens: Varieties of this species have white flowers lightly tinged with green and purple anthers. Although not widely cultivated, it includes the famous Tabasco pepper.
• Capsicum pubescens: This is the most delicate species and the least common in cultivation. Its flowers are purple with white anthers, and it is unique in producing black seeds. The rocoto belongs to this family.

In addition to these domesticated species, there are 23 species of wild chillies, generally small-fruited, which can be spread by birds, the natural vectors of their reproduction.

Pepper Varieties

Here is a list of cultivated pepper varieties, some of which are very popular:

• Anaheim (Capsicum annuum 'Anaheim'), also known as aji Colorado, California pepper, New Mexico pepper, or Rio Grande pepper.
• Ancho or poblano pepper
• Chiltepin
• Chimayo
• Cubanelle or cascabel, also known as little rattle
• De Árbol
• Guajillo
• Habanero (Capsicum chinense), also known as jamaican hot, lampion pepper, West Indian pepper, rocotillo, or scotch bonnet.
• Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum), also known as chipotle or morita
• Paprika (Capsicum annuum)
• Pasilla or chilaca
• Pili-pili
• Yellow or red banana pepper
• Cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum baccatum), also known as aji, piment enragé, or Cayenne pepper
• Espelette pepper (Capsicum annuum L. Gorria)
• Piment doux de Gascogne or Landes sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum)
• Kabyle pepper
• Piment oiseau or pequin, also known as piment zozio, piri-piri
• Vegetarian pepper, very fragrant without being strong, popular in the West Indies.
• Vietnamese pepper
• Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), also known as sweet pepper
• Pulla
• Serrano
• Ornamental pepper
• Naga Viper pepper, a hybrid pepper considered one of the strongest in the world