History of Chili pepper in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 27, 2026

Chili peppers are berry-fruits from the Capsicum genus, part of the Solanaceae family, grown for their spicy pungency. They're used globally as a spice, with capsaicin being the key compound causing their heat. Chili peppers vary greatly in heat levels and flavors, leading to a wide variety of chili powders with unique tastes and intensities.

1912: Invention of Scoville heat units

In 1912, American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville invented the Scoville heat units (SHU) to measure the "heat" of chili peppers. This method involved diluting chili extract with sugar syrup until the heat was undetectable to tasters, indicating the pepper's potency.

2014: Harvests of leaf crops in space

From 2014 onwards, the International Space Station started harvesting leaf crops such as lettuce and kale.

2021: Plant Habitat-04 experiment aboard ISS

In 2021, the Plant Habitat-04 experiment on the International Space Station grew four chili plants in 137 days, yielding twenty-six peppers across two harvests. The crew consumed most, while twelve were returned to Earth for study. This was the "first generally recognized fruiting crop in space".

2022: Regular consumption of chili peppers associated with lower risk of death

In 2022, a review of preliminary research indicated that regular consumption of chili peppers was associated with weak evidence for a lower risk of death from cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

2024: World production of green and dry chillies

In 2024, the world production of green chillies and peppers reached 45 million tonnes, with China contributing 39% and India 12%. The global production of dry chillies and peppers in 2024 was 5.5 million tonnes, led by China, Thailand, and Bangladesh, each accounting for over 300,000 tonnes.