[Jabu Ndlovu]

Jabu Ndlovu  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Dear Chris,

Can you please help explain the phenomenon behind the chillies/peri peri.  

What is the chemical composition of this plant for it to burn the way it does.  ( I love it by the way, gives great taste to food) Is there any evidence of it being used in war or to make explosives?

Please advise,

Regards,

Jabu

What do you think?

[explosci]

The compound is capsaicin newbielink:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin [nonactive]

It is used in pepper spray for self-defense uses.

Useless for explosives

[curiousmind]

Apparently, chillies are not actually "hot".. but it is our brain which makes our body think it is hot, due to a fast response to the Capsaicin present in the chillies!

[Sprool]

does too much chilli damage our tonges taste cells?