Milagai, mirch in Hindi, is chilli, a plant from the Americas that Portuguese traders brought to India in the 1500s. India is now the world’s largest producer and exporter of dried chillies, with the biggest market at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. Byadgi and Kashmiri chillies are prized for deep red colour with mild heat. Bell peppers are the same species. The fiery bhut jolokia is a different species, Capsicum chinense.
- Botanical name
- Capsicum annuum L.
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Tamil
- Milagai
- Hindi
- Mirch
- Sanskrit
- Marīca-bheda
- Parts used
- Fruit, Sometimes leaf in lists
- Habit
- Soft shrub grown for its hollow, pungent fruit
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Milagai
It is a bushy annual or short-lived perennial, usually knee- to waist-high.
The leaves are smooth, oval and pointed.
White, star-shaped flowers usually grow singly at each node and hang down.
The fruits are hollow berries, green ripening to red, yellow or orange, usually hanging, in many shapes and sizes.
Kanthari, Capsicum frutescens, has small upright fruits.
Traditional use of Milagai
Kitchen
Dried red chillies and chilli powder flavour almost every Indian curry, and green chillies go into chutneys and tempering.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
Kashmiri chilli is used in rogan josh for colour, and Guntur chilli for heat in Andhra cooking.
Kashmiri and Andhra food practice
Household
A lemon and green chillies hung at doorways are believed to ward off the evil eye.
Indian folk practice
Modern notes on Milagai
The heat comes from capsaicin, which switches on the TRPV1 pain receptor.
Dried chillies can be contaminated with aflatoxins if stored damp.
Chilli powder has been adulterated with illegal Sudan dyes and brick powder.
Chillies are rich in vitamin C, especially when fresh.
Milagai safety
Buy chilli powder from trusted brands and store dried chillies dry. Wash hands after cutting chillies and keep them away from the eyes.
Ecology and sourcing
It was domesticated in Mexico.
Birds spread chilli seeds because they do not feel capsaicin.
Thrips and leaf curl virus are major problems in Indian fields.
Related plants
Also in Solanaceae
Questions about Milagai
Is bell pepper the same species?
Yes.
When did chilli reach India?
In the 1500s, with Portuguese traders.
Why is Kashmiri chilli mild?
It has little capsaicin but lots of red pigment.
Is bhut jolokia the same?
No. It is Capsicum chinense.
How do I calm chilli burn?
Drink milk or eat curd.
Sources
- Capsicum annuum L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q1380 (Capsicum annuum)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.