Can you learn the language of chile? Photo by Stephen Seuss The truth about Chile is that only Mexicans and Amexicans fully understand it. In the first place it is not a spice. Spice comes from the East. The mistake is as crass as calling the Aztecs and Tlazcaltecas Indians. Europe's head was facing backwards as it headed west in the 15th century. Spices are dry condiments, often powdered - designed to mask and even enhance the smell and taste of decaying meat or enhance the flavour of boring vegetarian food. Spices work particularly well with odiferous mutton. They give flavour to lentils and Paneer. The truth about Chile is that it is syncretic. Wherever it was taken, along with maize, squash, tomatoes, cocoa, beans and vanilla, it was made to fit contours. Outside Mexico Chili is a lexicalised borrowing not a neologism. Think of the Welsh. They went to the Pampas and New Zealand in search of the rain and the green. Think of the Russians who chose Canada. Who w
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