Chili

• BOTANICAL NAME: Capsicum annum L., Capsicum frutescens L.

• Other Names: Hindi : Lal mirch Bengali : Lanka, Lankamorich Gujarati : Marcha Kannada : Mensina kai Malayalam : Mulaku Marathi : Mirchi Oriya : Lanka Punjabi : Lalmirch Tamil : Milagay Telugu : Mirapa kaya Urdu : Lalmirch

The origin of chilies is believed to be as old as 7000 B.C. used in Mexico. Chilies were grown and cultivated from 3500 BC. Mexicans used it to spice up their food. Chili was brought to the rest of the world by Christopher Columbus who discovered America in 1493. Christopher had set from Spain to reach India to bring spices such as pepper back to his country. Christopher not only mistook America for India, but also mistook chili as the black pepper. That is how the chili got the name ‘chile pepper.’ He took chile pepper back to Spain where it became a very famous spice.

India is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of chilies in the world. India also has the largest area under chilies in the world. Chilies are the most common spice cultivated in India. It is estimated that India produced 1060345 tons of dry chili from an area of 8, 84,183 hectares in 2003-04.

Chilies are valued principally for their high pungency and color. Almost all the states of India produce the crop. The Indian Chilli growing states are Andhra Pradesh (46%), Karnataka (15%), Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Indian Chilli can be grown during the entire year at one or the other partof the country. However, the major arrival season extends from February to April.

Health Benefits From Chili:

•  Capsaicin is used for treatment for many diseases like arthritis.

•  When chilly is eaten, it makes the brain to release endorphins, a natural painkiller present in the body.

•  Chilly contains lots of vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C

•  Sore throat, varicose ulcers, and laryngitis can be cured by using antibacterial chilly.

•  Chilly helps cure many diseases like blood pleasure, insomnia, hay fever, flu.