Bell pepper
71940
226184732
2008-07-17T05:55:39Z
75.75.84.191
/* Nomenclature */
{{For|green peppercorns|Black pepper}}
{{Unreferenced|date=October 2007}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Bell pepper
| image = Poivrons Luc Viatour.jpg
| image_width = 150px
| image_caption = Red, yellow and green pepper
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Asteridae]]
| ordo = [[Solanales]]
| familia = [[Solanaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Capsicum]]''
| species = '''''C. annuum'''''
| binomial = ''Capsicum annuum''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
{{Pepper
| left
| boxwidth=220px
| image=chilli05.jpg
| heat=None ([[Scoville scale|SR]]: 0)
}}
{{nutritionalvalue | name=Pepper, sweet, green raw | kJ=84| protein=0.86 g | fat=0.17 g | carbs=4.64 g | fiber=1.7 g | | sugars=2.40 g | iron_mg=0.34 | calcium_mg=10 | magnesium_mg=10 | phosphorus_mg=20 | potassium_mg=175 | zinc_mg=0.13 | vitC_mg=80.4 | pantothenic_mg=0.099 | vitB6_mg=0.224 | folate_ug=10 | thiamin_mg=0.057 | riboflavin_mg=0.028 | niacin_mg=0.480 | right=1 | source_usda=1 }}
'''Bell pepper''' is a [[cultivar group]] of the species ''[[Capsicum annuum]]''. Cultivars of the [[plant]] produce peppercorns which develop into fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, green and orange. Bell peppers are sometimes grouped with less pungent pepper varieties as "sweet peppers". Peppers are native to [[Mexico]], [[Central America]] and northern [[South America]]. Pepper seeds were later carried to [[Spain]] in [[1493]] and from there spread to other [[Europe]]an and [[Asia]]n countries. Today, [[Mexico]] remains one of the major pepper producers in the world.
==Nomenclature==
Peppers come from blossoms making them fruits botanically but they are treated as vegetables culinary because they are not sweet. They blend better with vegetables.
The term "bell pepper" is one of the many names for some fruits of the ''[[Capsicum annuum]]'' species of plants. The misleading name "pepper" (''pimiento'' in Spanish) was given by [[Christopher Columbus]] upon bringing the plant back to Europe. At that time [[peppercorns]] were a highly prized condiment.
Today, the term "bell pepper" or "pepper" or "capsicum" is often used for any of the large bell shaped capsicum fruits, regardless of their color. In [[British English]], the fruit is simply referred to as a "pepper", whereas in many [[Commonwealth of Nations]] countries, such as [[Australia]], [[India]], [[Malaysia]] and [[New Zealand]], they are called "capsicum". Across Europe, the term "paprika", which has its roots in the word for pepper, is used—sometimes referred to by their color (e.g. "groene paprika", "gele paprika", in Dutch, which are green and yellow, respectively). [[Paprika]] also refers to the powdered spice made from the same fruit. In France it is called "poivron" or "piment." In Japan, the word ピーマン ("pîman," from the French) refers only to green bell peppers, whereas パプリカ ("papurika," from paprika) refers to bell peppers of other colors. In the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], the fruit is often referred to simply as a "pepper" or referred to by color (e.g. "red pepper", "green pepper"), although the more specific term "bell pepper" is understood in most regions. Bell peppers are botanically fruits, but are generally considered in culinary contexts to be vegetables.
In parts of the U.S. around southern [[Ohio]], Northeastern Pennsylvania and northern [[Kentucky]] the term "mangoes" (or "mangos") has sometimes been used to refer to bell peppers. However, as the actual [[mango]] fruit has become more common in the region, this usage has faded.
In [[Russia]] it is commonly called ''болгарский перец'' (''bolgarskiy perets''), meaning ''[[Bulgaria]]n pepper''. In [[France]], it is called ''poivron'', with the same root as ''poivre'' (meaning [[black pepper]]). In [[Denmark]] the bell pepper is referred to as "peberfrugt", meaning pepper-fruit.
In [[Brazil]] it's commonly called ''[[Pimentão]]'', meaning ''Big pepper''. It's widely used in a variety of dishes, like pasta, rice and other dishes from [[Cuisine of Brazil]].
==Varieties==
The color can be green, red, yellow, orange and, more rarely, white, purple, blue, and brown, depending on when they are [[harvest]]ed and the specific [[cultivar]]. Green peppers are unripe bell peppers, while the others are all ripe, with the color variation based on cultivar selection. Because they are unripe, green peppers are less sweet and slightly more bitter than yellow, orange, purple or red peppers. The taste of ripe peppers can also vary with growing conditions and post-harvest storage treatment; the sweetest are fruit allowed to ripen fully on the plant in full sunshine, while fruit harvested green and after-ripened in storage are less sweet.
== In popular culture ==
*Green peppers are [[Kermit the Frog]]'s favorite [[pizza]] topping.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thewrongadvices.com/lazy-monkey/muppets-and-jessica-simpson-in-pizza-hut-commercial/|title=The Muppets And Jessica Simpson In Pizza Hut Commercial|publisher=The Wrong Advice|accessdate=2008-05-15}}</ref>
*In the [[The Simpsons|Simpsons]] episode 'Dial 'N' for Nerder', [[Homer Simpson]]'s suggested diet is of bell peppers.
*[[Takeshi Kaga]], chairman of [[Iron Chef]] and owner of [[Kitchen Stadium]], dramatically bites into a yellow bell pepper at the end of the shows [[theme song]].
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Grocery Store Bell Peppers.JPG|Green Bell Peppers on display at a Grocery Store
Image:Capsicum1.jpg|A variety of colored bell peppers
Image: Red capsicum and cross section.jpg | A whole and halved red bell pepper
Image:Purple bellpepper.jpg|A whole purple pepper
Image:Capsicum_annuum_2008.jpg|Red bell peppers
</gallery>
==See also==
{{Cookbook|Bell Pepper}}
*[[List of capsicum cultivars]]
*[[Scoville scale]]
*[[Paprika]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?dbid=50&tname=foodspice Bell Pepper] page at [http://whfoods.org/ World's Healthiest Foods]
[[Category:Chili peppers]]
[[Category:Crops originating from the Americas]]
[[Category:Vegetable-like fruits]]
[[ast:Pimientu]]
[[da:Peberfrugt]]
[[de:Paprika]]
[[es:Pimiento]]
[[eo:Kapsiko]]
[[fa:فلفل دلمه ای]]
[[fr:Poivron]]
[[id:Paprika]]
[[hu:Bell paprika]]
[[nl:Paprika]]
[[ja:パプリカ]]
[[no:Paprika]]
[[nn:Paprika]]
[[pl:Papryka (kuchnia)]]
[[pt:Pimentão]]
[[sl:Paprika (začimba)]]
[[fi:Ruokapaprika]]
[[sv:Paprika]]
[[tg:Қаламфур]]
[[yi:גרינער פעפער]]