2810: Pepper: Black, Chili, & Bell Aug 30, 2024

The word 'pepper' originally referred to the spices derived from the Piper genus, specifically black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (Piper longum), both native to India. Black pepper, the dried, unripe berries of the Piper nigrum vine, became the most common spice in Europe, while long pepper, which has a similar but hotter flavour, was more popular in ancient times. The word 'pepper' comes from the Latin piper and the Greek péperi, which trace back to the Sanskrit pippalī, referring to 'long pepper'. These spices were central to early trade routes, leading to the widespread use of the word 'pepper' in Europe to refer to pungent, spicy flavors.

When Columbus encountered chili peppers in the Americas, these unrelated fruits from the Capsicum genus were named 'peppers' by analogy due to their similar hot, pungent taste. Despite having no botanical relation to black or long pepper, the name stuck. Later, the milder Capsicum varieties, known as bell peppers, were also called 'peppers' because of their botanical relation to chili peppers, even though they lack the spiciness. Thus, the word 'pepper' evolved from a specific reference to Indian spices to an umbrella term for various spices and vegetables from different parts of the world, connected by their shared pungency or resemblance.