Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum
Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

What We're Growing:
We grow cayenne peppers for their bold heat, vibrant color, and powerful medicinal properties. These slender fruits ripen to a deep red and dry beautifully on or off the vine.

How We Use It:
Fresh or dried, cayenne is used in spice blends, vinegars, fire cider, and herbal tinctures. A small amount adds warmth to broths, sauces, and digestion-boosting tonics.

Why It’s Good for You:
Cayenne is rich in capsaicin, a compound known to stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation, and support pain relief when used topically or internally. It can boost metabolism, promote cardiovascular health, and improve digestion by increasing digestive secretions.

In herbal medicine, it’s often used in formulas to “move stagnation,” warm the body, and enhance the delivery of other herbs.

In the Garden:
Cayenne thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, producing abundantly in the heat. It’s relatively pest-resistant and easy to dry for winter use.

Fun Fact:
Cayenne has been used in traditional medicine to stop heart attacks in progress — a few drops of tincture under the tongue can help stimulate blood flow and keep the heart pumping (with emergency care, of course).