Ancient history of cayenne pepper

The cayenne pepper has been used in Africa for more than 10,000 years long before ancient Egyptian civilization.

Although cayenne was probably cultivated for hundred even thousands of years in the tropical Americas, Africa, India and other tropical areas of the world, Columbus seems to have been the first Westerner to take conscious note of food flavored with this pungent herb.

The folk remedy uses of cayenne pepper are quite extensive. Since ancient times, it has been used by healers to cure panoply of ailments, asthma, fevers, sore throats and other respiratory tract infections, digestive disturbance, poultices and cancers.

Columbus brought cayenne back to Europe, whey it served as a substitute for black pepper, which since it had to be imported from Asia at the time, was very expensive.
Ancient history of cayenne pepper

History of cayenne peppers

The peppers can be traced their 7000 year history to Central and South America. In these region, cayenne peppers were used first as a decorative item and subsequently as a food stuff and medicine.

The dried chills were burned by the Inca to blind the invading Spaniards. Native Americans used to rub chill on the gums to relieve the pain of a toothache.

The Incas put cayenne in the lakes where they caught fish so that the fish were spiced before being caught and cooked.

During the fifteenth Christopher Columbus encountered these spicy plants while exploring the Caribbean Islands. Columbus seems to have been the first Westerner to take conscious note of food flavored with this pungent herb.

He brought then back to Europe where they served as a substitute for black pepper. The first appearance of cayenne in history books was in 1493, when Peter Martyn wrote of its arrival in Italy after Columbus’s voyage.

Later in sixteenth century, London herbalist, John Gerard reported its cultivation in Great Britain. John Gerard in 1597 described the cayenne as hot and dry and specifically noted a deobstruent action for dissolving the swelling’s of king’s evil.
History of cayenne peppers