Cayenne pepper (Indian, Brazilian)

This hot capsicum, named after the French city of Cayenne, is cultivated in India and South America. Cayenne peppers are small, slightly juicy, and range in color from red to orange, or green when unripe, with a pungent, spicy, and bitter flavor.

Cayenne pepper is most often used in dried ground form as a seasoning for sauces, marinades, drinks, or in the form of dried flakes.

Ripe cayenne peppers are used in stews, soups, and pies, or they can be pickled in vinegar, used to make mayonnaise-based salad dressings, and vinegar-based sauces. The pulp of the ripe fruit, along with the seeds, is used to make a spicy paste. Cayenne pepper is the main ingredient in Tabasco sauce and curry powder.