Some interesting facts about bell peppers:
- Peppers are native to Central and South America. Pepper seeds were later carried to Spain in 1493 and from there spread to other European and Asian countries.
- Bell peppers are a great source of vitamin C. Green peppers have twice the amount of vitamin C by weight than citrus fruits, and this powerful punch of vitamin C is an antioxidant that may be effective in preventing certain types of cancer.
- Bell peppers can be found in a rainbow of colors and can vary in flavor. The variety of the pepper plant and the stage of the ripeness determine the flavor and color of each pepper.
- The pulpy white inner cavity of the bell pepper (usually cut off and discarded) is a rich source of flavonoids and can be eaten
- Red bell peppers are simply green bell peppers that have been left on the vine to continue to ripen.
- Peppers are actually fruits because they are produced from a flowering plant and contain seeds-most people think of them as vegetables.
- Red bell peppers are sweeter than green ones because bell peppers sweeten as they ripen.
- Red bell peppers have more than twice the vitamin C of a green pepper.
- Peppers were named by Spanish explorers searching for peppercorn plants to produce black pepper.
- Bell peppers are a good source of Vitamin A.
