• Question: why is a chili hot

    Asked by erandavitija to Laura, Lily, Mark, Paul, Sarah on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Paul Roche

      Paul Roche answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      That’s a chemistry question, but I think it’s due to something called capsaicin – I found thi sonline:

      “Scientists have discovered why chillies are so hot.
      They say the burning taste is an evolutionary ploy to stop mammals eating the pods and destroying the seeds.

      However, birds, which tolerate the peppery taste, eat the fruits and disperse the seeds far and wide. This ensures survival of the pepper plant.

      The researchers say their work could provide new ways to control populations that do not harm birds.

      A substance called capsaicin gives chillies their distinctive hot, peppery taste. The chemical stimulates areas of the skin and tongue that normally sense heat and pain, fooling the brain into thinking they are burning.”

    • Photo: Laura Maliszewski

      Laura Maliszewski answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Chili is hot or spicy because the chili peppers produce a molecule called capsasin. This molecule makes your skin feel pain, literally stimulating the same nerves that feel heat or burning. The chemical tricks your skin and the inside of your mouth into thinking it’s hot!

    • Photo: Lily Asquith

      Lily Asquith answered on 19 Jun 2010:

      I don’t know, but I want to!

    • Photo: Mark Roberts

      Mark Roberts answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      So the reason this happens is that Chilli’s contain Capsaicin which is a chemical that binds to the heat / pain receptors on our tongue and skin

      When it binds to the receptors it causes them to switch on the same way that heat / pain does – all your brain gets is the signal – so it interprets this as being hot as the ‘heat’ receptors are turned on.

      I guess the next question is why are chillies hot – what is the evolutonary advantage well as they are hot / painful because they contain Capsaicin this helps to stop animals from eating them! Birds don’t have these receptors so can eat them without feeling the heat.

      Interestingly the chilli seeds survive being eaten by a bird but not by an animal so to spread the seeds the chillies want to be eaten by birds – hence making themselves nasty for animals to eat

      Does that answer the qu better?

    • Photo: Sarah Bardsley

      Sarah Bardsley answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Chilis contain chemicals that are irritants for people. When you eat a chili, these chemicals bind with receptors in the mouth which detect heat. A signal is sent to the brain and we feel our mouths burning. Simples!

Comments