Delicious! Delightful! Peppers!
Peppers come in a range of colours – reds, greens, yellows, oranges and even purple and black.  They belong to different genera and a wide range of species too.  There are varieties like -  habanero, chilli, cayenne and bell.  Some have exotic names like Sweet Banana, Cubanene, Jamaican Hot, Jalapeno, Fresno Red and Cubanelle.   And then, there are the names that ring with opulence like Golden Summer Hybrid and Golden Bell.  And the strong names like Keystone Resistant Giant, Big Bertha and Macho.  And those that make us wonder like – Hy-Fry, Bell Boy, Peter Pepper and Yolo Wonder.

Whatever their names, peppers add a great deal to otherwise bland meals and as such, have graced the tables of the rich and poor.  They add flavour.  Bell peppers in stews, soups, stir-fries and rice dishes take your meal to a whole new level.  Hot peppers add punch to steamed fish, fish broths and marinades.  Black pepper sprinkled on eggs or a potato salad, certainly completes the taste.  And simply slathering hot sauce over wings or drizzling it over a bland tasting meal can bring the experience up a notch. 

And think of the colour that slithers of red, green and yellow bell peppers add to your raw salads; and the excitement that those same reds, greens and yellows bring to your vegetable rice dishes and omelets.  And pizza night can be turned into a gourmet experience with fire roasted red peppers generously piled on top.  Peppers add colour, excitement and expectation.

Talking about excitement … there’s the heat.  Eyes water, noses run, ears pop but we love it.  The heat in peppers may be measured on simple relative heat scales of 1 to 10 or on a scale as intricate as the Scoville Scale.  For example, Bell peppers measure 0-100 units on the Scoville scale while Jalapeno peppers measure about 2500, and Habeneros as much as 300,000. 

But not only do they add flavour, colour, heat and power (pepper spray), they also have high nutritive value.  Peppers have high Vitamin A, C and E content.  These are great for the skin among other things.  Due to their zinc (antioxidant mineral), content they can help protect the body against cardiovascular diseases and cancer.   They are also thought to stimulate the appetite, promote good digestion, and improve blood circulation.  Cayenne peppers, in particular are believed to be useful in treating abdominal cramps, colds and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, and for weight control.

So, the next time you slather hot sauce over your wings, anticipate the delightful flavors, the heat and the excitement but think of the useful nutrients that your body will thank you for.   [ back to news ]