It's important to note that the exact proportions of these ingredients can vary widely, and some chili powder blends may include additional spices such as coriander, cinnamon, or other regional variations. The combination of these ingredients creates a versatile spice blend that is commonly used in chili con carne, Tex-Mex cuisine, and a wide range of savory dishes to add heat and flavor.

Heat Level: Wild

Adherence to Recommended Usage Levels: When used in food products, capsicum oleoresin should be added in accordance with recommended usage levels and guidelines provided by regulatory authorities and food safety agencies. Excessive use of any food additive, including capsicum oleoresin, may lead to potential health risks.

Let's get into some history. Capsaicin was first extracted in 1816 by Christian Fridrich. Further work by John Clough Thresh led to its naming in 1876, but it wasn´t until 1898 that Karl Micko isolated the compound in pure crystalline form. A century later, in 1997, David Julius discovered and cloned the cellular receptor for capsaicin, and brought a new level of understanding on how capsaicin works. We´ll get more into this science in the second part of this blog.