Green Chillies

Chilli Facts - also called Chili, chile, chilly, chily, Mirchi, chile pepper, Aji, Paprika

General Facts

When landed in South America, Columbus discovered chilli and mistook it for pepper, naming it "Chile Pepper."


Chilli was used from 7000 BC in Mexico and was cultivated from 3500 BC.

There are nearly 400 Varieties of chilli.

There is great confusion in the spelling of the chilli. In USA, it is called chile or chile pepper; in UK, it is known as chilli or chili; and in India, it is known as chilli, or mirchi (Hindi), marchu (Gujarati), and molzhukai (Tamil).

Fishes could not feel pungency of the chilli because they do not have pain receptors.

Chillies belong to same family as tomatoes and potatoes.

India is largest producer of chilli.

Chilli Pungency

The pungency of the chilli is due to capsaicin present in the membrane placenta.


To store and make the chilli powder more pungent, mix it well with oil.

The hottest chilli 'Naga Jolokia' in the world is found in Tezpur, India. It is 855,000 in Scoville Scale.

The chilli's pungency is measured by Scoville scale which was named after Wilbur Scoville. With invention of computers, the pungency of chilli can be measured by HPLC.

To get rid of burning feeling, it is advisable to take fat or greasy content like milk, curd, sugar, or ice cream. Drinking water will not relieve the burning of your mouth because capsaicin is insoluble in water.

Medicinal Value

capsaicin is used for treatment for many diseases like arthritis.

When chilli is eaten, it makes the brain to release endorphins, a natural painkiller present in the body. The endorphin lowers blood pressure and helps to fight against cancer.

Chilli contains lots of vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C

Sore throat, varicose ulcers, and laryngitis can be cured by using antibacterial chilli. Man made capsaicin called "Guafenesein" is used in cough syrups.


Chilli helps cure many diseases like blood pleasure, insomnia, hay fever, flu

Green Chillies Recipes

Dahi Mirchi or Mor Molagai

Milagi Bajji

Mirchi Ka Salan