CALABRIAN CHILES, CRUSHED IRRADIATED (E55I)

Calabrian Chiles have found a place to thrive in the southern region of Italy, so much so that this particular variety has adopted the name of the celebrated town of Calabria. The chile pepper (or "pepperoncino" in Italian) is celebrated and well represented. In front of almost every home, you will find a string of chiles drying in the sun for decoration and storage for everyday use. The sweet and hot nature of the chiles adds a spice that perfectly complements southern Mediterranean cuisine. Part of the Capsicum annuum family, these peppers have been part of the human diet in the Americas since at least 7500 BC. While they are now staples in many cuisines, they were not introduced to Europe and Asia until the late 1400s when they were brought to Spain and quickly traded for their variety and as a cheaper alternative to pricey peppercorns. They are now so indispensable in other cultures that it is hard to imagine their food without them.