Bell Pepper

Bell Pepper is a non-pungent Capsicum annuum variety originating from Mexico and Central America, where it was domesticated by indigenous cultures thousands of years ago. The lack of heat is due to a recessive genetic trait that prevents the production of capsaicin.

Plants produce large, blocky fruits with thick, fleshy walls. Pods develop in a range of colours including green, red, yellow, orange, purple, and brown, depending on cultivar and stage of ripeness. The fruits are technically berries and grow on bushy plants adapted to temperate and tropical climates.

Bell peppers were introduced to Europe in the 16th century following the Columbian Exchange and have since been widely cultivated worldwide. Breeding efforts have focused on improving fruit size, colour diversity, sweetness, and disease resistance.