13 August 2008

Does Nando's know?


I may not be the world's biggest chilli fan but I do love scientific information about food. And so, this interesting titbit about chilli and how these little guys get their groove was quite an eyeopener. *sigh* Okay you can stop the yammering, I admit that was a really cheesy beginning.

Anyway, National Geographic has an article about the secret to a hot chilli - fungus!
Chilis high in chemicals called capsaicinoids occur most in areas where the fungus can enter the peppers through holes bored by insects, and these chilies are hotter, said study author Joshua Tewksbury, a biologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Makes sense, doesn't it? It also explains the old wives tales (in this case maybe not) about chilli clearing up your tummy.

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