Walk into any grocery store or up to a vegetable stand in just about any place in the world and there, among other local fruits and vegetables, you will find bell peppers. Depending on the country they may be called by different names such as sweet peppers, paprika, capsicum, or simply and plainly, as peppers. Besides their name, bell peppers also differ in color. Most of us are familiar with the green, orange, yellow, and red varieties but there are also purple, brown, and very pale yellowish colored bell peppers.
The bell pepper (also known as sweet pepper, pepper, capsicum /ˈkæpsɪkəm/ or in some places, mangoes) is the fruit of plants in the Grossum Group of the species Capsicum annuum.
Why Aren’t Bell Peppers Spicy?
So, if bell peppers are in the same scientific classification as cayenne chili pepper, why arent bell peppers hot? It comes down to a chemical compound called capsaicin. This chemical is the sole reason why a jalapeño is spicy and bell pepper is not. A bell pepper has no capsaicin. Capsaicin attaches itself to the mucous membranes in our mouths which in turn send out the fiery sensation. That heat in your mouth (or hands) will vary greatly depending on what type of chili pepper youve eaten. Peppers are ranked by their heat, or the amount of capsaicin they contain, on a scale called the Scoville Scale. Their capsaicin concentration is given a number on the scale and it is called Scoville Heat Units. Bell peppers do not have capsaicin, so they have zero Scoville Heat Units, therefore they are way at the bottom of the Scoville scale.
Anatomy of a Bell Pepper
When you slice a bell pepper in half it will look exactly like any spicy chile pepper. There is a placenta covered with seeds, there are veins running along the flesh of the bell pepper. They are pretty much identical with the main exception being the difference in size. Bell peppers have a fruity scent, just like many hot chilies. Both have a crispness to their flesh and also high water content. You can slice, sauté, grill, char, pickle, stuff, or eat bell peppers just like you would any kind of spicy chilies. But when it comes to bell peppers youll never have to wear gloves to protect your skin from a chili burn, and youll never have to reach for a drink to calm the fiery heat after eating bell peppers.
Green, Yellow, Orange, & Red Bell Peppers – What’s the Difference?
FAQ
What is the second name of bell pepper?
What do Americans call bell peppers?
What is the common name for green bell pepper?
What is the generic name for peppers?
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Capsicum annuum
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Genus:
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Capsicum
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Species:
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C. annuum
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Binomial name
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Capsicum annuum L.
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What is a bell pepper called?
And Bell peppers are of the Grossum cultivars, which produce fruits in a variety of colors. Several varieties of the Capsicum species are called by various names, such as Pepperoncini, Peperoncino, and Jalapeño. Anaheim, Cubanelle, Chili, Cayenne, Cherry, and Banana peppers are also Capsicums.
Do bell peppers contain capsaicin?
Bell peppers do not contain capsaicin, so they do not generate that itchy and uncomfortable sensation in the mouth. On the scale that ranks the amounts of capsaicin are at the bottom.
What genus are bell peppers?
Bell peppers are in the species Capsicum Annuum. The genus Capsicum has 20-27 species with five of those being domesticated: C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, and C. pubescens. The fruit of Capsicum plants has many names.
What is a sweet bell pepper?
Candy Apple. Candy Apple is an early-fruiting variety of Bell pepper as it produces fruits in around 70 days. These peppers are sweet, and they grow up to five inches long. California Wonder. Also called Sweet California Wonder, this four-inch, dark red heirloom Bell pepper would be great to use in your stuffed pepper recipe.