Chili pepper is native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. Wild chili peppers are commonly distributed in the tropical low-lying areas and Southeast Asia and even the southwest of China's tropical areas. China's discovery of wild chili pepper is late, the 20th century 70's when people only in Yunnan Xishuangbanna primitive forests found in the wild type of millet pepper.

The end of the 15th century, Columbus in the voyage to the Americas brought chili peppers back to Europe, this spicy crop was soon welcomed by the people. Subsequently it spread from Europe to other places. In the late Ming Dynasty (the end of the 16th century) chili peppers began to be introduced to China. And sweet potatoes (sweet potatoes) introduced about the same time, it is estimated that also by the overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia to bring back to China. The earliest records are found in Gao Lian's book Zunsheng Bazian (1591). In the book, it is referred to as "Fanshou Pepper". The name may have arisen because chili peppers from overseas, and like pepper has a spicy flavor and suitable for seasoning, so it is called "pepper".