Spice Chronicles

Red, white and blistering: the chillies America actually bred

Red, white and blistering: the chillies America...

Jalapeño and habanero don't actually count, they're Mexican and Caribbean. The chillies America can properly claim are a different, weirder story: a New Mexico horticulturist standardising landrace pods in 1913,...

Red, white and blistering: the chillies America...

Jalapeño and habanero don't actually count, they're Mexican and Caribbean. The chillies America can properly claim are a different, weirder story: a New Mexico horticulturist standardising landrace pods in 1913,...

When to Sow Chilli Seeds in NZ: A Month-by-Month Calendar

When to Sow Chilli Seeds in NZ: A Month-by-Mont...

Sowing chillies at the wrong time is the number-one reason Kiwi growers get leggy seedlings and unripe pods. This month-by-month NZ planting calendar fixes that — when to sow, plant...

When to Sow Chilli Seeds in NZ: A Month-by-Mont...

Sowing chillies at the wrong time is the number-one reason Kiwi growers get leggy seedlings and unripe pods. This month-by-month NZ planting calendar fixes that — when to sow, plant...

Smokin' Ed Currie: The Man Behind the World's Hottest Peppers

Smokin' Ed Currie: The Man Behind the World's H...

He bred the Carolina Reaper, then dethroned it with Pepper X — the hottest chilli on Earth. Meet Smokin' Ed Currie, the obsessive genius who turned up the heat on...

Smokin' Ed Currie: The Man Behind the World's H...

He bred the Carolina Reaper, then dethroned it with Pepper X — the hottest chilli on Earth. Meet Smokin' Ed Currie, the obsessive genius who turned up the heat on...

The Health Benefits of Capsaicin: More Than Just Heat

The Health Benefits of Capsaicin: More Than Jus...

That fiery kick from your chilli? It's capsaicin — and it does more than burn. From proven pain relief to promising research on heart and metabolism, here's what's real, what's...

The Health Benefits of Capsaicin: More Than Jus...

That fiery kick from your chilli? It's capsaicin — and it does more than burn. From proven pain relief to promising research on heart and metabolism, here's what's real, what's...

The Poblano Pepper: Mexico's Mild and Mighty Kitchen Staple

The Poblano Pepper: Mexico's Mild and Mighty Ki...

Mild, smoky and endlessly useful, the poblano is one of the most rewarding chillies in the kitchen — and the garden. Discover its Mexican roots, its classic dishes, why a...

The Poblano Pepper: Mexico's Mild and Mighty Ki...

Mild, smoky and endlessly useful, the poblano is one of the most rewarding chillies in the kitchen — and the garden. Discover its Mexican roots, its classic dishes, why a...

Soaking Chilli Seeds in Tea: Does It Actually Work?

Soaking Chilli Seeds in Tea: Does It Actually W...

Soaking chilli seeds in tea is a popular germination "hack" — but does it actually work? We dig into what the science really says about caffeine and tannins, and reveal...

Soaking Chilli Seeds in Tea: Does It Actually W...

Soaking chilli seeds in tea is a popular germination "hack" — but does it actually work? We dig into what the science really says about caffeine and tannins, and reveal...