Bell pepper - wikipedia Bell pepper Bell pepper Red, yellow and green bell peppers Species Capsicum annuum Heat Mild Scoville scale 0 - 25 SHU The bell pepper ( also known as sweet pepper or pepper in the United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland, and capsicum / ˈkæpsɪkəm / in Australia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore and New Zealand ) is a cultivar group of the species Capsicum annuum. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange, green, chocolate / brown, vanilla / white, and purple. Bell peppers are sometimes grouped with less pungent pepper varieties as `` sweet peppers ''. The whitish ribs and seeds inside bell peppers may be consumed, but some people find the taste to be bitter. Peppers are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Pepper seeds were imported to Spain in 1493, and from there spread to other European, African, and Asian countries. Today, China is the world 's largest pepper producer, followed by Mexico and Indonesia. Ideal growing conditions for bell peppers include warm soil, ideally 21 to 29 ° C ( 70 to 84 ° F ), that is kept moist but not waterlogged. Bell peppers are sensitive to an abundance of moisture and extreme temperatures. Contents 1 Nomenclature 2 Colors 3 Nutritional value 4 Production 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 References Nomenclature The misleading name `` pepper '' was given by Europeans when Christopher Columbus brought the plant back to Europe. At that time, black pepper ( peppercorns ), from the unrelated plant Piper nigrum originating from India, was a highly prized condiment ; the name `` pepper '' was at that time applied in Europe to all known spices with a hot and pungent taste and was therefore naturally extended to the newly discovered Capsicum genus. The most commonly used alternative name of the plant family, `` chile '', is of Mexican origin, from the Nahuatl word chilli. Botanically speaking, bell peppers are fruits ; however, they are correctly considered vegetables in culinary contexts. The bell pepper is the only member of the Capsicum genus that does not produce capsaicin, a lipophilic chemical that can cause a strong burning sensation when it comes in contact with mucous membranes. The lack of capsaicin in bell peppers is due to a recessive form of a gene that eliminates capsaicin and, consequently, the `` hot '' taste usually associated with the rest of the Capsicum genus. This recessive gene is overwritten in the Mexibelle pepper, a hybrid variety of bell pepper that produces small amounts of capsaicin ( and is thus mildly pungent ). Sweet pepper cultivars produce non-pungent capsaicinoids, with many physiological effects similar to the more pungent sister compound capsaican. The terms `` bell pepper '' ( US ), `` pepper '' ( UK ), and `` capsicum '' ( Pakistan, India, Australia, and New Zealand ) are often used for any of the large bell - shaped vegetables, regardless of their color. In British and Canadian English, the vegetable is simply referred to as a `` pepper '', or additionally by color ( as in the term `` green pepper '', for example ), whereas in the United States and Malaysia, they are usually referred to as `` bell peppers ''. In parts of the U.S. Midwest, bell peppers are called `` mangoes. '' Canadian English uses both `` bell pepper '' and `` pepper '' interchangeably. In some languages, the term `` paprika '', which has its roots in the word for pepper, is used for both the spice and the fruit -- sometimes referred to by their color ( e.g., `` groene paprika '', `` gele paprika '', in Dutch, which are green and yellow, respectively ). The bell pepper is called `` パプリカ '' ( papurika ) or `` ピーマン '' ( piiman, from Portuguese pimentão ) in Japan. In Switzerland, the fruit is mostly called `` peperone '', which is the Italian name of the fruit. In France, it is called `` poivron '', with the same root as `` poivre '' ( meaning `` pepper '' ) or `` piment ''. In Spain it is called `` pimiento '', which would be the masculine form of the traditional spice, `` pimienta ''. In South Korea, the word `` 피망 '' ( pimang from the Japanese `` ピーマン '' ( piiman ) ) refers to green bell peppers, whereas `` 파프리카 '' ( papeurika from paprika ) refers to bell peppers of other colors. In Sri Lanka, the fruit used as a vegetable is called `` maalu miris ''. Colors Peppers in five colors ( Banana peppers are second from the left ) The most common colors of bell peppers are green, yellow, orange and red. More rarely, brown, white, lavender, and dark purple peppers can be seen, depending on the variety. Most typically, unripe fruits are green or, less commonly, pale yellow or purple. Red bell peppers are simply ripened green peppers, although the Permagreen variety maintains its green color even when fully ripe. As such, mixed colored peppers also exist during parts of the ripening process. Green peppers are less sweet and slightly more bitter than yellow or orange peppers, with red bell peppers being the sweetest. The taste of ripe peppers can also vary with growing conditions and post-harvest storage treatment ; the sweetest fruits are allowed to ripen fully on the plant in full sunshine, while fruit harvested green and after - ripened in storage is less sweet. Nutritional value Peppers, sweet, green, raw Nutritional value per 100 g ( 3.5 oz ) Energy 84 kJ ( 20 kcal ) Carbohydrates 4.64 g Sugars 2.4 g Dietary fiber 1.8 g Fat 0.17 g Protein 0.86 g Vitamins Vitamin A equiv. beta - Carotene lutein zeaxanthin ( 2 % ) 18 μg ( 2 % ) 208 μg 341 μg Thiamine ( B1 ) ( 5 % ) 0.057 mg Riboflavin ( B2 ) ( 2 % ) 0.028 mg Niacin ( B3 ) ( 3 % ) 0.48 mg Pantothenic acid ( B5 ) ( 2 % ) 0.099 mg Vitamin B6 ( 17 % ) 0.224 mg Folate ( B9 ) ( 3 % ) 10 μg Vitamin C ( 97 % ) 80.4 mg Vitamin E ( 2 % ) 0.37 mg Vitamin K ( 7 % ) 7.4 μg Minerals Calcium ( 1 % ) 10 mg Iron ( 3 % ) 0.34 mg Magnesium ( 3 % ) 10 mg Manganese ( 6 % ) 0.122 mg Phosphorus ( 3 % ) 20 mg Potassium ( 4 % ) 175 mg Sodium ( 0 % ) 3 mg Zinc ( 1 % ) 0.13 mg Other constituents Fluoride 2 μg Link to USDA Database entry Units μg = micrograms mg = milligrams IU = International units Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source : USDA Nutrient Database Bell peppers are rich sources of antioxidants and vitamin C. The level of carotene, like lycopene, is nine times higher in red bell peppers. Red bell peppers have twice the vitamin C content of green bell peppers. Red and green bell peppers are high in para-coumaric acid. The characteristic aroma of green bell peppers is caused by 3 - isobutyl - 2 - methoxypyrazine ( IBMP ). Its detection threshold in water is estimated to be 2 ng / L. The same chemical is responsible for characteristic Cabernet Sauvignon green note. Production Bell and Chili pepper production ( metric tons ) Country 2005 2006 2007 China 12,031,031 12,530,180 13,031,000 14,033,000 Mexico 1,431,258 1,617,264 1,681,277 1,690,000 Indonesia 1,100,514 1,058,023 1,100,000 1,100,000 Turkey 1,700,000 1,829,000 1,842,175 1,090,921 Spain 1,077,025 1,063,501 1,074,100 1,065,000 United States 978,890 959,070 998,210 855,870 Nigeria 720,000 721,000 721,500 723,000 Egypt 467,433 460,000 470,000 475,000 South Korea 410,281 395,293 352,966 345,000 Netherlands 318,000 345,000 318,000 340,000 Romania 237,240 203,751 279,126 280,000 Ghana 270,000 270,000 277,000 279,000 Italy 362,430 362,994 345,152 252,194 Tunisia 255,000 256,000 256,000 250,000 Algeria 265,307 248,614 275,888 233,000 Hungary 126,133 113,371 206,419 207,000 Morocco 182,340 190,480 235,570 192,000 Serbia * 159,741 167,477 177,255 150,257 Japan 153,400 154,000 146,900 150,000 Israel 129,100 134,700 150,677 136,000 World 24,587,124 25,261,259 26,252,907 26,056,900 Note : Serbia before 2006 included Montenegro Gallery Orange bell pepper A variety of colored bell peppers A whole and halved red bell pepper A whole purple pepper Red bell peppers Japanese green pepper Green, yellow and red peppers Quadrato d'Asti Giallo bell pepper flower Secondary fruit growing inside a capsicum annuum Red bell pepper as decoration Yellow bell pepper plant Green bell pepper plant Bell Pepper with Cyclamen Mite damage See also Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bell pepper. Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe / module on Bell Pepper List of Capsicum cultivars Paprika Scoville scale Stuffed peppers References Jump up ^ Wells, John C. ( 2008 ), Longman Pronunciation Dictionary ( 3rd ed. ), Longman, p. 123, ISBN 9781405881180 Jump up ^ Pharmacognosy and Health Benefits of Capsicum Peppers ( Bell Peppers ) Jump up ^ http://www.livestrong.com/article/447429-should-i-eat-a-raw-bell-pepper/ Jump up ^ `` Growing Peppers : The Important Facts ''. GardenersGardening.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013. Jump up ^ `` Medicinal Plants of the Southwest ''. medplant.nmsu.edu. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 15. Jump up ^ http://www.chiliwonders.com/chili.scoville.htm Jump up ^ `` The World 's Healthiest Foods ''. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010. Jump up ^ Macho, Antonio ; Lucena, Concepción ; Sancho, Rocio ; Daddario, Nives ; Minassi, Alberto ; Muñoz, Eduardo ; Appendino, Giovanni ( 2003 - 02 - 01 ). `` Non-pungent capsaicinoids from sweet pepper ''. European Journal of Nutrition. 42 ( 1 ) : 2 -- 9. doi : 10.1007 / s00394 - 003 - 0394 - 6. ISSN 1436 - 6207. Jump up ^ Josse, Andrea R ; Sherriffs, Scott S ; Holwerda, Andrew M ; Andrews, Richard ; Staples, Aaron W ; Phillips, Stuart M ( 2010 - 08 - 03 ). `` Effects of capsinoid ingestion on energy expenditure and lipid oxidation at rest and during exercise ''. Nutrition & Metabolism. 7 : 65. doi : 10.1186 / 1743 - 7075 - 7 - 65. ISSN 1743 - 7075. PMC 2922296. PMID 20682072. Jump up ^ `` Dictionary of American Regional English ''. Retrieved 10 October 2015. Jump up ^ Azhar Ali Farooqi ; B.S. Sreeramu ; K.N. Srinivasappa ( 2005 ). Cultivation of Spice Crops. Universities Press. pp. 336 --. ISBN 978 - 81 - 7371 - 521 - 1. Retrieved 22 August 2010. Jump up ^ `` Vegetable of the Month : Bell Pepper ''. CDC Fruit & Vegetable of the Month. Archived from the original on 3 January 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2012. Jump up ^ University of the District of Columbia. `` Peppers '' ( PDF ). Center for Nutrition, Diet and Health. Retrieved 13 March 2013. Jump up ^ Dominique Roujou de Boubee, School of Oenology, University of Bordeaux II. `` Research on 2 - methoxy - 3 - isoButylpyrazine in Grapes and Wine '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2013. Jump up ^ `` Table 64 -- World bell and chili peppers : Production 1990 -- 2007 ''. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 08. Capsicum cultivars C. annuum var. annuum Aleppo Banana pepper Bell pepper Bird 's eye Cascabel Cayenne Cheongyang Chilaca Cubanelle De árbol Dundicut Espelette Facing heaven ' Fresno Chili ' Friggitello Guajillo Guntur Sannam Hungarian wax Jalapeño Medusa Mulato New Mexico ( a.k.a. Anaheim / Hatch ) Padrón Pasilla Peter Pimiento Poblano Santa Fe Grande Serrano Shishito C. annuum var. glabriusculum Piquín Wild chiltepin C. chinense Adjuma Ají dulce Bhut jolokia ' Carolina Reaper ' Datil ' Dragon 's Breath ' Fatalii Habanero Hainan yellow lantern ' Madame Jeanette ' ' Naga Morich ' ' Red Savina ' habanero Scotch bonnet Trinidad moruga scorpion Trinidad scorpion ' Butch T ' ' Pepper X ' C. frutescens African bird 's eye Kambuzi Malagueta Siling labuyo Tabasco C. baccatum Ají Bishop 's crown Lemon drop Peppadew C. pubescens Rocoto pepper Category Commons Agriculture General Agribusiness Agricultural supplies Agricultural science Agricultural engineering Agroforestry Agronomy Animal husbandry Animal - free agriculture Extensive farming Farm Free range Intensive farming Intensive animal farming Mechanised agriculture Organic farming Permaculture Sustainable agriculture Universities and colleges Urban agriculture History Prehistoric Neolithic Revolution Agriculture in Mesoamerica Ancient Ancient Egypt Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Medieval Arab Agricultural Revolution Modern British Agricultural Revolution Green Revolution Organic Types Aquaculture Cattle Dairy farming Goat farming Grazing Hydroponics Livestock Pig farming Orchards Poultry farming Sheep farming Categories Agriculture by country Agriculture companies Biotechnology Livestock Meat industry Poultry farming Category Portal Wikiproject Horticulture and gardening Gardening History Design computer - aided Garden tool Green wall Arboretum Allotment Butterfly Community Forest French intensive Guerrilla Garden Historic conservation Landscape Native Parterre Raised bed Square foot Sustainable Xeriscaping Types of gardens Back Biblical Botanical Butterfly Byzantine Cactus Cantonese Chinese Color Container Cottage Dutch English Fernery Floating Flower French formal landscape Renaissance Front Greek Greenhouse Hanging Hügelkultur Islamic Italian Japanese Kitchen Knot Korean Market Mary Monastic Mughal Orangery Orchard Persian Bagh Charbagh Paradise Philosophical Pleasure Roman Spanish Rain Rose Roof Sacred Scottish Sculpture Sensory Shade Therapeutic Trial Tropical Victory Vineyard Walled Water Wildlife Winter Zen Zoological Horticulture Agriculture stock - free sustainable urban Arboriculture Botany Companion planting Crop most valuable Flora Floriculture Fruticulture Genetically modified tree Hydroculture Indigenous Intercropping Landscape architecture Oenology Olericulture Plant breeding propagation drought tolerance hardiness Pomology Postharvest physiology Tropical Urban agriculture horticulture forestry reforestation Viticulture Organic Biodynamic agriculture List of organic gardening and farming topics Vegan organic gardening Plant protection Fungicide Herbicide Index of pesticide articles List of fungicides Pesticide Plant disease forecasting Pruning Weed control Agriculture and agronomy portal Gardening portal Commons Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bell_pepper&oldid=824933175 '' Categories : Chili peppers Crops originating from the Americas Capsicum cultivars Crops Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from November 2012 Articles with ' species ' microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from March 2015 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Asturianu Català Čeština Dansk Español Esperanto فارسی Français 客家 語 / Hak - kâ - ngî 한국어 Hausa Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska ಕನ್ನಡ Қазақша Lietuvių Magyar मराठी Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk پښتو Português संस्कृतम् Slovenčina Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் తెలుగు ไทย Türkçe Tiếng Việt Walon Winaray ייִדיש 粵語 中文 Kabɩyɛ Edit links This page was last edited on 10 February 2018, at 12 : 59. 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Question: is red bell pepper a fruit or vegetable
Answer: fruits