Capsicum chinense is a member of a family.
The chili pepper -LRB- also chile pepper or chilli pepper , from Nahuatl chilli -LSB- ˈtʃiːli -RSB- -RRB- is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum , members of the nightshade family , Solanaceae .. Nahuatl. Nahuatl. chilli. Aztec cuisine. genus. genus. Capsicum. Capsicum. Solanaceae. Solanaceae. In Australia , Britain , India , Ireland , New Zealand , Pakistan , South Africa , and in other Asian countries , it is usually known simply as chilli .. The substances that give chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically are capsaicin and several related chemicals , collectively called capsaicinoids .. capsaicin. capsaicin. capsaicinoids. Capsaicin#Capsaicinoids. Chili peppers originated in Mexico .. After the Columbian Exchange , many cultivars of chili pepper spread across the world , used in both food and medicine .. Columbian Exchange. Columbian Exchange. Chilies were brought to Asia by Portuguese navigators during the 16th century .. Portuguese navigators. Portuguese navigators. Worldwide , some 3.8 million hectares -LRB- about 9.4 million acres -RRB- of land produce 33 million tons of chili peppers -LRB- 2010 data -RRB- .. India is the world 's biggest producer , consumer and exporter of chili peppers .. Guntur in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh produces 30 % of all the chilies produced in India .. Guntur. Guntur District. Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh , as a whole , contributes 75 % of India 's chili exports .. Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh