Épices Rœllinger Collection Of Chilli Peppers<Chile from India F9

The hundreds of modern varieties all trace their origins back to central America. As chile pepper varieties made their way around the globe, they became an essential element in tropical cuisines, from Cayenne and Mexico to Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.

In 1493, Columbus brought the first chile peppers—or ‘devil’s spice’—back to Queen Isabella of Spain. From there, chiles traveled to Greece and Turkey, then Hungary.

As early as the 16th century, Portuguese ships introduced chile peppers to India, which was ultimately a gateway to Southeast China and Asia. Chiles which was traded by the Magellan companies, were integrated more rapidly into Asian cuisines than European.

Until the 19th century, chile peppers were believed to be indigenous to the East Indies. Even today, many still believe that chile peppers originated in India.