
Chilli Peppers
The True History of a World Conquest
Andrew Dalby(Author)
Equinox Publishing Ltd
Will be published approx. on 1. September 2026
Book
Hardback
280 pages
978-1-80050-935-1 (ISBN)
Description
The worldwide spread of genus Capsicum is a story of human enthusiasm for health-giving foods and fiery flavours. This book tells it all, from original sources, beginning with the spread of chillies around south and central America; their first known encounter with humans ten thousand years ago; their migration from virgin forest to cultivation; their first Atlantic crossing, from Hispaniola to Spain in 1493; their rapid spread beyond Europe to China, Africa and India; their astounding popularity in world cuisine in the 21st century.
Why do we teach ourselves to like the chilli burn? How did this taste become a necessity and even an addiction? History provides some of the answers; nutrition studies, medicine and ethnobotany add much more. Maps, illustrations and a selection of recipes from cultures around the world show how the five cultivated species and the hundreds of varieties find their place in modern cuisines.
Why do we teach ourselves to like the chilli burn? How did this taste become a necessity and even an addiction? History provides some of the answers; nutrition studies, medicine and ethnobotany add much more. Maps, illustrations and a selection of recipes from cultures around the world show how the five cultivated species and the hundreds of varieties find their place in modern cuisines.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Colour Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-80050-935-1 (9781800509351)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Andrew Dalby is a historian and linguist. He is the author of several books, including The Classical Cookbook (1996), Dangerous Tastes: the Story of Spices (2000), Language in Danger: The Loss of Linguistic Diversity and the Threat to Our Future (2003), Tastes of Byzantium: The Cuisine of a Legendary Empire (2010) and Bacchus: A Biography (2003). He studied classics and linguistics at St John's College, Cambridge, and gained a PhD from London University.
Content
Foreword
Part I
Prelude: Europe's future spice
Chapter 1: Capsicum species: the origins
Chapter 2: The Andes
Chapter 3: Amazonia and beyond
Chapter 4: Greater Mexico
Chapter 5: The Caribbean
Interlude: It burned their tongues
Chapter 6: Europe
Chapter 7: To Asia, Africa and the ends of the earth
Chapter 8: The whole meaning of chilli
Part II
Chapter 9: Chillies in their variety
Chapter 10: Chillies in their flavour
List of illustrations
Bibliography
Index
Part I
Prelude: Europe's future spice
Chapter 1: Capsicum species: the origins
Chapter 2: The Andes
Chapter 3: Amazonia and beyond
Chapter 4: Greater Mexico
Chapter 5: The Caribbean
Interlude: It burned their tongues
Chapter 6: Europe
Chapter 7: To Asia, Africa and the ends of the earth
Chapter 8: The whole meaning of chilli
Part II
Chapter 9: Chillies in their variety
Chapter 10: Chillies in their flavour
List of illustrations
Bibliography
Index