Editor’s Note. This is a listing and description of the peppers of the Capsicum genus commonly grown in the United States in 1865. It is from the book The Field and Garden Vegetables of America, by Fearing Burr. Boston: J. E. Tilton & Co., 1865. Please remember that we have learned a lot about chile peppers since this was written, …
Buffalo Chili Con Carne, 1883
The only extensive use I have ever seen made of the [buffalo] meat was by the Mexicans, who used to come across the “Llano Estacado,” or “Staked Plains,” in large parties every Winter, for the purpose of hunting. Their method of preserving the meat is to cut it into long strings, or immense flakes, and after carefully removing every particle of …
Pepper-Pot for Breakfast in Maroon Country, 1862
By Captain Mayne Reid Editor’s Note: The Maroons were escaped slaves in Jamaica who hid in the infamous cockpit country of jungles and sinkholes. The Maroons were famously known for inventing jerk pork, but they also liked their spicy pepper-pot soup. “This white gentleman has not eaten breakfast,” said Cubina, as they came up. “Well, Quaco! What have the …
The “True Chili Capsicum”
By Joseph Paxton Editor’s Note: Sir Joseph Paxton (1803–1865) was an English gardener, architect, and Member of Parliament, best known for designing The Crystal Palace. Paxton began publishing a monthly magazine, Magazine of Botany in 1834. In 1838, when Capsicum nomenclature was still in its infancy, Paxton wrote about a new chile pepper species that was called Capsicum ustulatum. “Ustulatum” …
New Find Proves Chile Sauce Use 2000 Years Ago
By Dave DeWitt Using the same technology that proved the use of chocolate at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, researchers have analyzed the contents of the residue of pots from ancient Mexico and discovered traces of chiles without chocolate. This indicates that either chile sauces were being made, or that they were used to spice up other beverages, about a thousand …


