But what if you can’t find these traditional Hungarian peppers? Don’t worry! An excellent alternative that you can easily find in the US is the Sweet Hungarian or Sweet Banana pepper. These elongated peppers share similarities with their Hungarian counterparts and have a mild, slightly sweet flavor. You can usually find them at local grocery stores or farmers’ markets, making them a convenient choice for homemade “Hungarian” paprika.

Let's get into some history. Capsaicin was first extracted in 1816 by Christian Fridrich. Further work by John Clough Thresh led to its naming in 1876, but it wasn´t until 1898 that Karl Micko isolated the compound in pure crystalline form. A century later, in 1997, David Julius discovered and cloned the cellular receptor for capsaicin, and brought a new level of understanding on how capsaicin works. We´ll get more into this science in the second part of this blog.

Curcumin has also been shown to have benefits for brain health. It can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been found to have neuroprotective properties, meaning it can help protect the brain from age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Why Aren't Bell Peppers Spicy?

Heat Level: X-Hot

Chili peppers are considered to be any of the fruits of the Capsicum genus that contain capsaicin, the compound responsible for the peppers' characteristic heat. The heat level of chili peppers is measured on the Scoville scale, which quantifies the amount of capsaicin present. Varieties of chili peppers range from mild to extremely hot, offering a wide range of options for adding heat to dishes.