Cayenne

The Cayenne is a red, hot chili pepper used to flavour dishes and for medicinal purposes. Named after the city of Cayenne in French Guyana, it is a grower of Capsicum annuum related to bell peppers, jalapenos, and others. The Capsicum genus is in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The fruits are generally dried and ground, or pulped and baked into cakes, which are then ground and sifted to make the powdered spice known as cayenne pepper. Cayenne is used in cooking spicy hot dishes, as a powder or in its whole form (such as in Sichuan cuisine) or in a thin, vinegar-based sauce. It is generally rated at 30,000-50,000 Scoville Units. It is also used as a herbal supplement, and was mentioned by Nicholas Culpeper in his book "Complete Herbal".