Speculations on Peppers

Abstract

This article, which deals mainly with the origin and spread of peppers of the genus Capsicum, refers also to Piper nigrum, black pepper, and to the green and red peppercorns which have recently become fashionable. It is neatly complemented by the article which follows it, in which Philip and Mary Hyman discuss the less familiar 'long pepper' and its fall from favour in western countries.