In Africa, bird peppers are collectively referred to as pili pili (can also be spelled peri peri, or piri piri), and
the ground fruits are common seasoning for roasted fish and meat.
African bird pepper is also popular in Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, and
Filipino cuisines, where it is frequently used to add fiery heat to
sweet and sour dishes, curries and flavored vinegars.
Chili peppers, including African bird peppers, contain a variety of
antioxidants and significant amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, folic acid
and potassium. These peppers also contain a compound called capsaicin,
which is involved in modulating pain signaling in nerve cells. As such,
this compound is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for
use in over-the-counter topical ointments and creams formulated to
decrease swelling and pain associated with arthritis and other
inflammatory conditions.
