when I ask the definition of "pepper." I've recently learned that so-called bell peppers have no capsaicin, the chemical that gives peppers their zing. To me, it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that zing, so why do so-called bell, or sweet peppers get to be called peppers? Bell pepppers make me sick, whereas real peppers do not, so I suspect they're not really in the same family. Are they?

Bell (or sweet) peppers are genus capsicum like the other chili peppers. Pepper itself is a misnomer given by Columbus when he brought them back to Spain. The spicy substance in peppercorn is piperine.

I like bell peppers, especially if stuffed. Just the other day I had a Philly cheese-steak sandwich with bell peppers on it.

Thanks for the info. I could find nothing! Henceforth I shall refrain from referring to chilis as peppers. Oh, and I'll also quit calling that Italian who didn't discover America by the name, "Columbus." He's Columbo from now on.

That's a great blog, proof. Do you read it or did you just find it searching for peppers?

quote:

Originally posted by Kalleh:
That's a great blog, proof. Do you read it or did you just find it searching for peppers?

Goofy has been reading Omniglot Vegetarian for a long time.

I'll have to read it. What other blogs do you and others here like (besides Language Log)?