Talking About Pepper

[Rozzer]

The subject of pepper has arisen recently in two or three different threads. Some of us appear to be real black pepper afficionados. Thinking about it, I was wondering what if any relationship there is (or isn't) between black pepper, white pepper, red pepper and other kinds of pepper. Didn't black pepper originate in the East Indies, and doesn't red pepper originally come from South America? Is there any biological connection between these and other kinds of pepper? Do they all derive their moxie from capsaicin?

[eclecticsynergy]

Yep, all varieties of pepper originate from plants of the capsicum family. They all get their kick from capsaicin, and are are the only plants that produce it.