Los Chiles: The Mexican Chilli Taxonomy
I
Origin
Mexico is the origin of all cultivated chillies — Capsicum species were domesticated in Mexico and spread globally through the Columbian Exchange. The Mexican chilli taxonomy is the most sophisticated in the world, with hundreds of named varieties distinguished by heat level, flavour profile, and state (fresh versus dried — the same chilli having different names when fresh and dried). Understanding the taxonomy is foundational to Mexican cooking.
II
Description
The essential Mexican chilli vocabulary — fresh and dried, with their specific flavour profiles.
III
The Thread
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IV
Flavour Context
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Pillars V — VII
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Quality hierarchy, sensory tests, and where the dish lives or dies — on every entry in the Library.
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