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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!seismo!hao!cires!nbires!opus!rcd
From: rcd@opus.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cooks
Subject: Re: questions on spices (peppers)
Message-ID: <246@opus.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 19-Mar-84 15:52:12 EST
Article-I.D.: opus.246
Posted: Mon Mar 19 15:52:12 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 21-Mar-84 02:18:50 EST
References: <1580@tekig1.UUCP>
Organization: NBI, Boulder
Lines: 29

<>
> What are the similarities/differences between:
>  red pepper
>  cayenne pepper
>  black pepper
>  chili powder
>  white pepper
>  hot red pepper
>  red chili pepper
>  ???

First things first - "pepper" has two meanings which are very far apart
(coincidentally, just as does "Indian").  One sort of pepper is, or is made
from, pepperCORNs - the little round critters, about 1/8" diameter or so.
Into this category fall familiar black pepper and white pepper.  These are
made from two types of peppercorn.  You may also find peppercorns of
somewhat different variety, or harvested at different times in their
growth, which give green peppercorns, pink/red peppercorns, and others -
but these are comparatively rare.

The other object named "pepper" is the family of vegetables of which the
"bell pepper" or "green pepper" is a member.  If the word "chili" or
"chile" appears in the name, it's one of these.  Cayenne and chili powder
are made from different types of red chile pepper (most types turn red as
they ripen), dried and ground to powder.  However, "chili powder" is often
a mixture of a dried ground pepper with some combination of salt, oregano,
cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, etc.
-- 
{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd