Red pepper is made from the ground fruit of a plant in the Capsicum family.

The fruits, commonly known as "chilies" or "chili peppers", are small, fiery red or orange pods which rarely grow to more than 4 inches in length. The ground spice ranges from orange-red, to deep, dark red.

Red pepper is used to achieve the characteristically hot flavor of Mexican, Creole, Cajun, Thai, Szechuan, and Indian cooking.

Red pepper contains capsaicin - the phytonutrient responsible for producing their heat. This spice also help to reduce inflammation in the body, causes the brain to release feel-good substances called endorphins and helps to boost weight loss efforts.

Store red pepper in a cool, dry place.