If used with discretion though, they can be quite pleasant. When Columbus stumbled upon America he found civilizations that had been consuming chilies for 10,000 years or more. Thinking they were related to black pepper, and the Aztec name for them being chilli, he dubbed them chili pepper. Throughout history the chili pepper has been used as a natural preservative, and for such physical problems as respiratory ailments, digestion, and poor circulation. Today it is even in an aerosol spray and used to ward of attackers.
Physiologists say that chilies are truly addictive, like nicotine or cocaine.
This seems believable seeing how once you start to use them you actually crave their pungent flavor and sharp bite. According to chili expert Mark Miller, chilies have multitudes of underlying flavors, like a good wine. A few of the flavors that he mentions are chocolate, cinnamon, and fruit. This seems to be stretching it a bit in my opinion, but dishes do taste quite different depending on which chili or chilies are used. Cayenne peppers are one of the most widely cultivated chilies in the world, yet at the same time, one of the least appreciated.