For example, most chili peppers are grown in the western hemisphere, such as in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil (Andrews). Chili peppers and powders were first used in Mexico and India for food and medicine in around 7000 B.C. (“Chili”). Chili Powder is often sold in Bolivia (“Chili Powder”). The peppers grow best in hot weather, a large amount of sun, and high humidity (Bradtke). Chili Peppers are plants that are grown from seeds (“How to Grow Chili Peppers Indoors”). These peppers can be used to create the spice, so this spice is a powder. Chili peppers and powder were exchanged due to the Columbian Exchange and trade (“History of Chili Powder”). They spread from South and Latin American foods to Asian dishes and moved to Europe and primarily Spain first (“Chili”).
Chili powder is extracted by harvesting chili peppers one at a time by cutting the stem of the plant directly above the pepper using scissors/shears (“How to Grow Chili Peppers Indoors”). Capsaicinoid chemicals are commonly extracted from the peppers to add spice and heat to chili powder (“Capsaicin”). Some solvents used during extractions are Acetone, Methanol, and Ethanol and these solvents must not have large quantities of water. This extraction process is completed using a piece of laboratory equipment called a Soxhlet Extractor. Soxhlet Extractor devices use less solvent during extractions