Chili peppers, also spelled chile or chilli, are varieties of the berry-fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, which are members of the nightshade family Solanaceae, cultivated for their pungency. Chili peppers are widely used in many cuisines as a spice to add "heat" to dishes. Capsaicin and related compounds known as capsaicinoids are the substances that give chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically. Chili peppers exhibit a range of heat and flavors. This diversity is the reason behind the availability of different types of paprika and chili powder, each offering its own taste and heat level.

मिरची हे उष्ण कटिबंधीय अमेरिका येथील फळ आहे असे मानले जाते. याची चव तिखट असते. हे फळ रंगाने बहुदा हिरवे असते. परंतु पिवळ्या व लाल रंगातही येते. याची पाने गुळगुळीत, एकाआड एक अशी येतात. मिरचीच्या फळांमध्ये अ, ब, क आणि ई जीवनसत्त्वे असतात. तसेच यात कॅल्शिअम, फॉस्फरस ही खनिजे असतात. मिरचीमध्ये असलेल्या कॅपसायसीन नावाच्या पदार्थामुळे मिरचीला तिखट चव प्राप्त होते.