Chiles

Chiles, or chili peppers, are the spices produced from the spicy fruits of 5 species of the genus Capsicum in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). They are differentiated from sweet peppers due to their heat. While there are tens of thousands of cultivars, here are the 5 species and examples of each:

• Capsicum annuum:  jalapeño, serano, cayenne, poblano
• Capsicum chinense:  habanero, ghost pepper
• Capsicum baccatum:  ají
• Capsicum frutescens:  tabasco, piri piri, Thai chili
• Capsicum pubescens:  rocoto, manzano

Learn more about chiles here.