Why does chili has spicy taste?

Here's a breakdown:

* Capsaicin is a chemical produced by chili peppers. It's found in the white membranes (the pith) and seeds of the pepper.

* Capsaicin activates a specific receptor on your tongue called TRPV1. This receptor is also triggered by heat, which is why chili peppers feel hot.

* The amount of capsaicin varies greatly depending on the type of chili pepper. Some peppers, like bell peppers, have very little capsaicin and are not spicy. Others, like habaneros, have a high concentration of capsaicin and are extremely spicy.

* The spiciness of chili is measured on the Scoville scale. This scale was developed in 1912 by American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville. The scale measures the relative heat of different chili peppers.

So, chili peppers are spicy because they contain capsaicin, which triggers a specific heat-sensing receptor on our tongues.