"Afternoon Homer...I've added an extra ingredient just for you. The merciless peppers of Quetzlzacatenango"
          -Chief Wiggum

Teach me, Chile and I shall Learn
Take me, Chile, and I shall Escape.
Focus my eyes, Chiles and I shall See.
Consume more Chiles.
I feel no pain, for the Chile is my teacher
I feel no pain, for the Chile takes me beyond myself.
I feel no pain, for the Chile gives me sight
              -Litany against Pain, Transcendental Capsaicinophilic Society

Chile peppers and spicy foods have been gaining popularity over the last twenty years.  We've witnessed a growing trend of spicy food festivals, the presence of innumerous "hotter than hot" hot sauces on the supermarket shelves and the plethoria of internet sites and groups such as Chile-Heads and the Transcendental Capsaicinophilic Society, that all in some way, pay "hommage" to the chile.

Chile peppers have always occupied a position within the folklore and mythology of everyday life. In astrology, Capsicums or chile peppers fell under the dominion of Mars, the ancient God of War. In 1690, Fuentes y Guzman wrote that those who ate red peppers were protected against poison, while the Incas, prohibited the use of chiles at initiation and funeral ceremonies. One of the most common household uses of chiles has been as a fumigant for vermin such as bedbugs and rats. Chiles were often burned to protect against vampires and werewolves. In fact, Chiles were often used as amulets, probably because its pharamcological properties made it a suitable "tool" in religious ceremonies and witchcraft.

In this section of the community, we'll explore some Chile pepper history and review some of the major issues in the eating and appreciation of Chile peppers and all things spicy.