When it comes to distinguishing a pepperoni from a chili, even star chefs sometimes break a sweat. This is less due to the pungent taste of the pods than to their inevitable similarity. With the tips on this page you will soon become an expert and be able to distinguish pepperoni and chili at first glance.
What is the difference between pepperoni and chili?
The main difference between pepperoni and chili is the spiciness and size. Chilies are smaller and hotter (500+ Scoville), while hot peppers are milder (100-500 Scoville) and larger. Both are subspecies of peppers and contain the pungent alkaloid capsaicin.
Where does the likelihood of confusion come from?
Both chili and hot peppers are classified as peppers. This means they are closely related to each other. What they also have in common is their origins in South American Mexico, where both types of vegetables are considered a common part of the country's cuisine. This is best known for its spicy dishes. Chili and hot peppers contain lots of capsaicin. Essentially, pepperoni is a subspecies of chili. However, upon closer inspection, it has a different appearance and also varies in taste.
Characteristics of chili
- extremely hot (500 on the Scoville scale, increasing trend)
- small pods
- mostly colored red
Characteristics of pepperoni
- milder in taste (100-500 on the Scoville scale)
- bigger than the chili
- a subspecies of chili
What does the Scoville scale express?
The Scoville scale indicates the spiciness of a food. Chilis and hot peppers are accordingly high here. This is mainly due to the high capsaicin content that both varieties contain. Although chili and hot peppers are among the pepper vegetables, they have very little value due to special breeding. Nevertheless, the chili pepper is many times hotter. Depending on the variety, pepperoni can also taste mild or slightly sweet.
Different processing
The biggest difference between a pepperoni and a chili is the way they are processed. Of course, this results from the different taste of both types of peppers. Since the chili is much hotter than a hot pepper, it is usually used to make cayenne pepper or the well-known chili powder. However, you can get all kinds of paprika powder from hot peppers. There are fiery varieties here too. Nevertheless, the selection also extends to sweet, almost sweet spices such as sweet paprika powder.
