Where do bell peppers come from?
The rich diversity of heirloom varieties in the bell pepper family, which includes varieties with round, long, and oblong, as well as many different colors including red, yellow, orange, and purple, makes them a favorite of gardeners everywhere. Bell peppers are native to the Americas, and were cultivated by the Aztecs and Mayans thousands of years ago. Because bell peppers were thought to have medicinal properties, they were often used in healing ceremonies and served as food.
Where do bell peppers start?
The ancestors of the modern bell pepper are thought to have originated in South America. The plant, known as C. chilana, is thought to have been domesticated between 4000 and 5000 BC. The domesticated varieties of the peppers were developed for their large, oblong, brightly colored fruits. The peppers were initially used as medicine and to treat everything from headaches to fever. Eventually, their milder, sweeter flavor was discovered and the peppers were used for food and as a decorative garnish
Does bell peppers come from Africa?
The domestication of the sweet and mild varieties of peppers is thought to have roots in southwest Africa, where the seeds were first used as a spice. By the time the Romans advanced into Africa, peppers had been grown in the region for more than 2000 years. From there, the crop made its way to the rest of the world.
Where did the first bell pepper originate?
The first species of bell peppers were domesticated in the Americas, possibly in Mexico. The domestication of the chili pepper is not entirely clear. The story of the domestication of the chili is one of two possible ways. The first one is that the chili pepper was domesticated through the domestication of the tomato. The second is that the chili was domesticated separately from the tomato.
How do bell peppers get their color?
There are many varieties of sweet and hot bell peppers, and they all have different colors. You can learn more about what causes the different colors of bell peppers in this post.