We may take peppers for granted, but that all changes come November. The entire month marks the joyous occasion of National Pepper Month. Peppers are a staple in many kitchens, so it’s time to give these delicious fruits the attention they deserve. Get ready, we’ve gathered up some excellent gift and celebration ideas that are sure to help you get the party started.
National Pepper Month - History
1912
Scoville scale developed
Wilbur Scoville invented a way to measure the intensity of peppers.
1896
Stuffed peppers
Stuffed peppers made their first appearance in a printed cookbook.
1600s
Pirates and Peppers
Real-life pirate Lionel Wafer wrote about bell peppers in a book about the Americas and the Caribbean.
1493
Columbus discovered...peppers
After visiting the Americas, Columbus brought peppers back home to Europe.
5000 BC
Peppers domesticated in Mexico
In the Tehuacán valley of Mexico, peppers became domesticated as a crop.
National Pepper Month Activities
1. Make your own hot sauce
You only need a few ingredients, and most recipes are fairly straightforward. Just stock up on some small glass bottles and start packaging your delicious concoction.
2. Take a pepper class
You're sure to learn about different methods of growing these tasty fruits as well as how to decode the notorious Scoville spice scale.
3. Make stuffed peppers
National Pepper Month is the perfect time to whip up a batch of tasty stuffed peppers. Want to spice things up a little? Get out of your comfort zone and try new variations.
4 Smokin' Hot Pepper Facts
1. Pricey summer peppers
Hot weather brings high prices. Peppers tend to be least expensive during the months of November-June.
2. Better when eaten raw
Cooking bell peppers destroys some of their key nutrients, so it's best to nibble away at them beforehand.
3. Hang those peppers!
Hanging peppers is a great way to get them to dry out, but in some cultures it's also believed they bring health and good luck.
4. Purple peppers?
We're familiar with red, yellow, orange, and green peppers, but bell peppers can also be black, brown, white, and purple.
Why We Love National Pepper Month
A. Peppers are easy to find
Most grocery stores carry at least a couple of different pepper varieties. Bell peppers and jalapeños are easy to find almost anywhere, but poblanos, habaneros, and serranos are also gaining a lot of popularity as well.
B. Bell peppers are healthy
They're packed full of vitamins A and C, and are widely known for boosting the immune system. They also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
C. Peppers can be mild or spicy
Whether you love the burning sensation of biting into a habanero or prefer to simply garnish your salad with a green bell pepper, there are a ton of different varieties. Almost everybody can find some type of pepper that they enjoy. As for us, we'll take a jalapeño popper, please.
