chi-POTE-lay

by Laura Donnelly — July 11, 2007

Chipotle peppers are everywhere, in mole sauces, aiolis, sandwich spreads, and fish tacos. How do you pronounce "chipotle" and what are they? It's chi-POTE-lay. And they are smoked jalapeno peppers. Usually sold in small tins with lots of extra sauce, they can also be found dried. A little bit goes a long way. Why do some people love hot chilies? Here's a scientific explanation from the Oxford Companion to Food: "Why should a food that causes pain be so widely popular? One theory is that the discomfort in the mouth causes the brain to produce endorphins, natural opiates that give pleasure. The capsaicin present in the chili acts on your palate and the initial bud receptors on the tongue are slightly anaesthetized or 'hurt' by this repeated negative or 'painful' stimulation. When received in either high or low doses, this stimulates the motor pathways and creates an increase in endorphins which provokes the release of more dopamine and activates the reward circuitry." Hubba-hubba!