Each chapter in one of Susan's mysteries begins with a fascinating bit of information or a quotation on the attributes of the herb at hand. In Susan's latest, Chile Death, someone puts something in a batch of chili at the Pecan Springs chile cookoff that kills judge Jerry Jeff Cody and China sets out to solve the crime. Following is a meditation on the wonder of chile by China Bayles herself. In fact, some people might consider that to call a chile pepper an herb might be stretching things. Cayenne pepper has been used by native herbalists for centuries as a digestive aid, a diuretic, and in the treatment of poor circulation.
Peppers are perennial plants, native to South America, that are grown as annuals in North America.
Botanists currently have identified twenty-seven varieties, but they are still arguing, so stay tuned. You can buy transplants from the nursery, but the selection is usually limited to jalape os and habaneros. If you'd like to try some of the more unusual varieties, it's a good idea to start from seed. One thing that most peppers have in common is hot. On this scale, now measured by liquid chromatography, peppers range from 0 for the mild bells to 350,000 and up for habaneros.