The compound capsaicin (cap-SAY-a-sin) is what causes the burning sensation. Capsaicin is mainly concentrated in the white pithy ribs inside the pepper, but a good amount can also be found in the seeds. Since they are indigestable by the human stomach and intestines, seeds can sometimes cause some discomfort the next morning when they're, ahem, passed from the body.

No, there are no poisonous peppers – however, some of the ornamental peppers do not taste very good but are edible.

The heat of the pepper comes from the oil called capsaicin which is found mostly in the seeds and membranes of the pepper. The same nerves in our tongues and skin that react to heat are affected by Capsaicin, giving us the burning sensation.

No. But continued exposure to capsaicin builds a tolerance to the compound, therefore requiring more capsaicin to be present to feel the same level of heat.

Yes. They are packed with high amounts of vitamin C and beta carotene. The chile alkaloid capsaicin is also currently used to relieve arthritis, certain forms of neuralgia, psoriasis and some post-operative pains in patients. And research is currently under way to test prevailing theories that chile peppers have blood thinning properties, help speed up metabolism after meals that include them, stimulate circulation, and relieve constipation.

Yes . . . sort of. North of the equator chile peppers spin in a clockwise direction at approximate speeds of between 0.7 to 0.8 rpm depending on the temperature of the pan. South of the equator they spin counter-clockwise. At the equator itself they don't spin at all, but merely hop around the pan.

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Depending on where you live, you may be able to grow hot peppers in your own garden. For more detailed information, read the articles about non-bell Peppers, or contact your county Extension office.

No research indicates adverse side effects from pepper overdose…to the contrary, peppers have many medicinal benefits.

Absolutely not. Pepper flowers are self-pollinated, although occasionally cross-pollinate. However, the result of this crossing will appear only if seed is saved from this year's crop and planted next year. It will not result in off-flavor or differences in fruit characteristics of this year's crop. Yes, although this is not a recommended practice. In the northern parts of the state spring-planted pepper plants can often be carried through to first killing frost without pruning.

Yes. One journalist’s account reported that the lead singer picked Buckethead up at the airport and found out that Buckethead had not heard any of their tunes. The audition proceeded anyway, and Buckethead played in his inimitable fashion (i.e., robot dance, hyper-metal licks etc...). When he finished the band applauded raucously. Flea confirmed that they auditioned BH saying that he was "sweet and normal," but they wanted someone "...who could also kick a groove."

It doesn't matter who you are, or what you've done, or think you can do. There's a confrontation with destiny awaiting you. Somewhere, there is a chile you cannot eat." The quote appears in the essay 'A Hot Time in Nairobi,' which was originally aired as a commentary on NPR, and subsequently published in "Fish Whistle" and "Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle."

We have developed here a very extensive and complete page with books and links related to the region, the people and the activities we operate. Enjoy it!

Oh, heck yes! I don't golf (I like to point out that golf spelled backwards is "flog") so can't tell you much but here's a link to the Chilean Golf Federation home page - most of their pages are bilingual. There are around 60 courses in the golf federation. The link from the page listed above to "Clubes" (clubs) lists all the clubs in the federation and provides info about them.

Chile is one of the safest destinations in America. However, we recommend caution in large cities, especially at bus terminals and in markets: do not let your bags out of your sight and close zippers or pockets well. While trekking, it is very rare to meet anybody apart from the few mountain farmers and herders who welcome a chat and are particularly trustworthy because they live in the mountains all year round.

Columbus thought he had found the plant that produces black pepper when he landed in North America and thought he was in India. That's why we call them "peppers."

The pleasure/pain reaction to peppers is said to have a psychologically beneficial effect and nutritionally peppers contain lots of Vitamin A, B and C, as well as magnesium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin.

Yes, peppers are addictive. Peppers contain capsaicin, a natural chemical that sends a burning sensation from the nerve endings in the mouth to the brain. The body defends itself against this pain sensation by secreting endorphins, natural painkillers that cause a physical "rush" - a high that keeps us coming back for more. So indulge your pepper cravings, and rest assured that you will soon build a tolerance.

For your international flight into Santiago de Chile or Buenos Aires Argentina it will be easier and cheaper to do it directly with your local travel agency or through the following links: Lan Chile: it is an excellent airline with departure gates in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Madrid and Frankfurt. We can help with your domestic flights in Chile. When you book those flights through us, it is easier to coordinate them with the land arrangements.

Although you see them fairly frequently, foreigners only are very common in a few major tourist destinations. It's not hard to find areas where you're the only gringo if you want, as I did much of the time in my 1999 trip. I never saw too many other Americans except when we were in major destinations like Puerto Natales and Torres Del Paine National Park or in the major spots of the Lakes District.

There are lots, and they are often a great place to visit. I've only been to a couple of the bigger ones. Here's some fairly large ones I remember right off the top of my head: The Museo de Arte Precolombiana in Santiago, which is quite good and a nice place to get out of the bustle of downtown Santiago for a few hours. The three homes of Pablo Neruda are supposed to be quite worthwhile, I certainly enjoyed my visit to La Chascona, the one in the Bellavista barrio of Santiago.

Local drinks (beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, and bottled water) cost about half what they do in the U.S. Tap water is safe, but only because it contains a lot of disinfectants. For your tastebuds' sake, ordering water „sin gas" (without gas) is an inexpensive alternative. When you desire American standards and/or American food, expect prices as you would pay in the U.S.

Chile belongs to the safest countries in South America. Foreigners can move freely in Chile. Assaults with battery are seldom, you may - we hope not! - become victim to minor criminal acts. Here are some tips: Avoid walking in the outskirts of the cities and be careful in the centers and when using public transport Watch out for pickpockets! They are clever and often dressed very nicely.

The common and almost exclusive means of payment is the Chilean Peso. You can withdraw money at cash points of the Redbanc ATM's with your ATM or EC/Maestro Card in any big city -maximum 200.000 Pesos per day (approx. 320 USD or 270 EUR). This costs around 7 USD / 5 EUR per withdrawal with good exchange rates. You can pay with the usual credit cards in most restaurants, shops, supermarkets etc. If you take out money with your credit card, the bank charges are higher. Further information

What are Capsicum peppers called? Is it CHILE or CHILI, or even CHILLI or CHILLIE ? It depends of where you are in the world. Nowadays, the Capsicum pepper is referred to by most people as the CHILE, where as the meal made from meat and chile peppers is referred to as a CHILI. Even so, CHILE PEPPER can appear in the local dialects as something else.

The same principle of bulk cooking can be applied to onions and green peppers either individually or together. If your recipe calls for a sauteed onion, instead of sauteing one onion, buy a whole bag of onions, chop them all and freeze in casserole-sized servings. When you have these meal-sized portions of meat and vegetables, it is a cinch to throw together a quick meal late in the afternoon. If you are just starting Menus 4 Moms, you will not have sauteed onions in your freezer.

Chileans speak Castellano (Spanish) with quite a few local features. They speak fast but most people will slow down if they realize you aren't a fluent speaker. A common feature of the local dialect is dropping syllables in common words - Usted becomes something like u'te', para becomes pa'a, etc. They often say "buen día" or just "día" for good morning, and almost always "chao" (ciao) for goodbye.

For the north of Chile, October/November and March/April/May are the ideal months. August and September are known to be very windy; between December and February the "Bolivian winter" can easily lead to snowfall and rain in the mountains, while in June and July it gets very cold at high altitude. South of Copiapó, the summer months from December to February are of course the best time. Personally, we prefer spring and fall.

The last frost-free date for Central Jersey is around May 15. Listen to the weather reports for any late frosts and protect sensitive plants with caps or covers. For more information please visit our Planning a Vegetable Garden page.

Not any more (though that was once the process)! These days, the olives are drained, sorted by size, pitted and stuffed by machine. That helps to ensure quality, and makes the stuffed olives affordable to consumers.