Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper is a very hot red powder used to flavour dishes. The powder comes from the fruit of several cultivars of the Capsicum baccatum and C. frutescens species of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The fruits are either dried and ground, or pulped and baked into cakes, which are then ground and sifted to make the powder.

The name is derived from the Tupi word kyinha\, literally "hot pepper."

Cayenne is used in cooking spicy hot dishes: see the chilli article. Cayenne is generally rated at 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Units.

It is also used as an herbal supplement.