Cayenne pepper is a hot and spicy vegetable from the chili pepper family. It gets its name from the town where it originated in South America. These peppers originated thousands of years ago in South and Central America. They were first used as decoration, but soon after began being used for culinary and medicinal uses. These peppers and others are now grown all over the world.
Herbalists suggest using cayenne to stimulate the circulatory system. It is also recommended to treat upper respiratory infections. A common way to prepare a remedy for sore throats is to mix cayenne with honey and lemon juice as a syrup.
Cayenne pepper is also known to boost the immune system. Not only is it anti-inflammatory, but it is also wonderful source of carotenoids such as beta-carotene, and antioxidant that is powerful. The high amounts of vitamin A and cayenne peppers is also known to help the functions of the immune system.
Not only is cayenne pepper a great source for vitamin A, it also provides dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin K, B6, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
You can use cayenne pepper dried or fresh. Fresh cayenne peppers are often used in the same way jalapenos are, chopped up and added to main courses, soups, sauces, and dips. If you remove the seeds, the spiciness of the peppers will be lowered. Remove the seeds while you wear gloves, and avoid any contact with your face and eyes to keep the painful irritants away from sensitive areas. Fresh, right cayenne peppers can also be dried. Place the clean peppers on a wire rack and leave them there until they are completely dry, around three weeks. You can store these dried whole peppers in a sealed container for up to a year keep them away from light.
Dried cayenne pepper can be used in almost any dish and is quite versatile. There are not many dishes that cayenne peppers cannot improve. Many people pair cayenne pepper with lemon juice and use it over most any vegetable. If you want to add a little bit of spice to your cocoa, try adding a little bit of cayenne pepper. Use a glass jar that can be tightly sealed to store your dried cayenne peppers away from direct sunlight. Doing so can help it last up to three years.