Red chillies are made from the dried fruits of the Capsicum species, which originated in Central and South America, particularly in present-day Mexico and Peru. Chillies were introduced to India in the 15th–16th century by Portuguese traders, and quickly became a staple in Indian cooking.

India not only adopted chillies but also became a global leader in their production, especially of red chilli powder, which is ground from dried red chillies.