The Foreign History of Our Indian Mirchi Here’s Everything You Need To Know

How did chillies enter our country?

In 1492, Christopher Columbus first saw chillies in the Caribbean while looking for a sea route to Asia. But it was Portuguese traders who brought chilli seeds from Brazil to India in the 16th century. They first landed in Goa, where people called it ‘Pernambuco pepper’. Chillies quickly became a hit because they were cheaper than black pepper and grew easily in Indian soil. Today, India is a top producer of famous varieties like Guntur, Byadgi, Kashmiri, and Bhut Jolokia chillies. States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are now major hubs for chilli farming.