Generic name (Capsicum) for various plants or their pungent fruits. The country-specific names often cause confusion. These are Peperoni, Chili (Germany), Pfefferoni and Peperoni (Austria), Peperoncini (Switzerland and South Tyrol). The term chilli is also used for a spice mixture originating in the USA based on powder of the fruit (chilli powder) or for a hot seasoning sauce made from it (chilli sauce). Cayenne or Spanish pepper originated in Latin America and is obtained from dried fruits of the cayenne chilli variety; it therefore also has nothing to do with pepper. Many of the names suggest pepper, so paprika is often confused with pepper. However, these are two different spice families. Paprika contains capsaicin, the "real" pepper contains piperine.
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The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena