Ever wonder about the origins of hot peppers popular in Thai food?

[Gaybutton]

It took me years before I could finally tolerate the hot peppers at the same level in food as the Thais. Now it rarely ever bothers me and I can eat the same food as the Thais eat. I could just as well do without it, though.
________________________________________________________________________

Chilies (or chili peppers) are native to the Americas, originating in regions of Central and South America. They are a fruit from the genus Capsicum and were unknown outside of the Americas before the late 15th century.

Asia: The Portuguese brought chilies to trading posts in India and Malaysia, from where they quickly spread to other parts of Southeast and East Asia. This is why they are now a staple ingredient in cuisines like Indian, Thai, and Sichuan Chinese cooking, despite not being native.

https://www.google.com/search?q=where+a ... 0A&csuir=1