Arizonans Love Chile Peppers!
Chiles add the spice to Mexican food!
In addition to Cinco de Mayo, the majority of Arizonans love Mexican food, and crave it frequently. Most spouses would love to add an addendum to their marriage license, stating that Mexican food is a requirement to eat at least once a week! Mexican cuisine includes a delectable array of dishes, and just about all of them taste even better with salsa added. The main ingredients in making salsa are tomatoes, chile peppers, onions and spices.
In addition to Cinco de Mayo, the majority of Arizonans love Mexican food, and crave it frequently. Most spouses would love to add an addendum to their marriage license, stating that Mexican food is a requirement to eat at least once a week! Mexican cuisine includes a delectable array of dishes, and just about all of them taste even better with salsa added. The main ingredients in making salsa are tomatoes, chile peppers, onions and spices.
What makes our mouths burn? Chile peppers! These plants are a part of the Capsicumgenus, and have an interesting history.
Chile pepper history
Wikipedia reports that Greek Theosphrastus (370-286 b.c.) described Copsicum, and Roman poet Martialis (First Century, a.d.), also described Piper crudum (raw pepper) as long and containing seeds, different than the black pepper. Archaeological sites in Ecuador, and other parts of South and Central America, have affirmed that chile peppers were domesticated more than 6,000 years ago!
Wikipedia reports that Greek Theosphrastus (370-286 b.c.) described Copsicum, and Roman poet Martialis (First Century, a.d.), also described Piper crudum (raw pepper) as long and containing seeds, different than the black pepper. Archaeological sites in Ecuador, and other parts of South and Central America, have affirmed that chile peppers were domesticated more than 6,000 years ago!
European explorer Christopher Columbus first found chile peppers in the Caribbean, naming them "peppers" after Old World black peppers in the Piper genus. Physician Diego Alvarez Chanca was on Columbus' second voyage to the West Indies in 1493, brought chile peppers back to Spain, and later documented their medicinal value in 1494. Thereafter, chiles became cultivated around the world!
Chile peppers world-wide
Specific varieties of chile peppers (fresh, dried and powdered) have been cultivated in the Americas, including the United States, Mexico and Canada; South America, North and South Africa, Asia, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and Korea also cultivate many varieties of chile peppers.
Specific varieties of chile peppers (fresh, dried and powdered) have been cultivated in the Americas, including the United States, Mexico and Canada; South America, North and South Africa, Asia, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and Korea also cultivate many varieties of chile peppers.
Hotness of chile peppers determined with Scoville Scale Chemist and Professor Wilber L. Scoville, who worked for a pharmaceutical company in 1912, developed a way of measuring the heat level of chile peppers by blending pure ground chiles with sugar-water, diluting the concentrations until a point was reached when the liquid no longer burned mouths. Numbers were assigned to each variety of chile pepper, based on dilution level, and the "Scoville Organoleptic Test" (popularly known as the Scoville Scale) was created and is still used today. A ratio of 1,000,000 drops of water equal 1.5 Scoville Units. Could you imagine being one of the testers?
Arizona chile peppers
Most of Arizona's chile peppers probably originated from crops in the Mexican State of Sonora. Climate and soil are similar, and seeds know no boundaries. Arizona's neighbor, New Mexico, is the largest chile pepper grower in the United States, with Arizona, California, Texas and Louisiana close behind.
Most of Arizona's chile peppers probably originated from crops in the Mexican State of Sonora. Climate and soil are similar, and seeds know no boundaries. Arizona's neighbor, New Mexico, is the largest chile pepper grower in the United States, with Arizona, California, Texas and Louisiana close behind.
Chile pepper varieties
Chiles used in Arizona Mexican food dishes include: Habanero, Jalapeño, New Mexico, Anaheim, Serrano, Chipotle, Chile de Arbol, Guajillo, Pasilla, Poblano, and Chile Tepin, Hundreds of other varieties exist, but these are the most popularly used in Arizona recipes. According to the garden web forum, chile peppers are some of the easiest crops to grow in Phoenix backyards, especially Habanero, Jalapeño, Serrano, Anaheim, Banana, Dong Xuan, Thai Hot, Aji and Poblano. Most all varieties like the Sun.
Chiles used in Arizona Mexican food dishes include: Habanero, Jalapeño, New Mexico, Anaheim, Serrano, Chipotle, Chile de Arbol, Guajillo, Pasilla, Poblano, and Chile Tepin, Hundreds of other varieties exist, but these are the most popularly used in Arizona recipes. According to the garden web forum, chile peppers are some of the easiest crops to grow in Phoenix backyards, especially Habanero, Jalapeño, Serrano, Anaheim, Banana, Dong Xuan, Thai Hot, Aji and Poblano. Most all varieties like the Sun.
Chile peppers and Mexican restaurants We know that Macayo's has its own chiles grown in McNeal, Arizona, part of the Southern Arizona "chile belt." Arriba's uses Hatch chiles from New Mexico. Many Mexican restaurants in our State serve Sonoran-style food, however, La Perla's is Chihuahuan, El Conquistador's is Jalisco-style, andLa Parrilla Suiza is Mexico City-style.
Chile peppers have medical and nutritional
Capsaicinoids are the substances that give chile peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically.Capsaicin is a safe and effective analgesic agent in the management of arthritis pain, herpes zoster-related pain, diabetic neuropathy, post-mastectomy pain, and headaches.
Capsaicinoids are the substances that give chile peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically.Capsaicin is a safe and effective analgesic agent in the management of arthritis pain, herpes zoster-related pain, diabetic neuropathy, post-mastectomy pain, and headaches.
Nutritionally, chile peppers contain most B vitamins, especially Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, carotene, potassium, magnesium and iron.
Arizona's Salsa Trail Celebration
Local restaurants in the Arizona towns of Pima, Safford, York (Highway 75), Thatcher, Solomon, Clifton, Duncan and Willcox participate in the Annual Salsa Trail. This year, the SalsaFest is held from September 24-24, 2010. Arizona's Governor proclaims September as "Arizona's Salsa Trail Month!
If you're interested in an easy blender salsa recipe, check out this article on "Blender Salsa: how to keep teenagers happy with this quick mix."
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