Wayne also sent me a picture of the chemical structure of capsaicin. Milk products cool you off after eating chiles because casein, a protein, breaks the bond between the pain receptors and the capsaican. Peppers are members of the Solanaceae Family. Some relatives include tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant. Peppers have existed at least since 7000 BC Columbus thought he had found the plant that produces black pepper when he landed in North America and thought he was in India.
Peppers are addictive.
Wilber Scoville invented the scoville test around the turn of the century. Until very recently, it was used to rate chile peppers for hotness. Now, a test which uses liquid chromotography rates the heat level of chiles. At different stages, chiles are correctly called berries, fruits, vegetables, and spices. Why Some Like It Hotter Than Others by Dave DeWitt Cutting-Edge Chiles for 1999 by Dave DeWitt of Fiery Foods Magazine Excerpts from Chef Mars' course on Chiles and Salsas.