Peppers, with their bright colors and wide variety of flavors, have become popular in cooking and as an ornamental plant in the United States.  Hot pepper
varieties have also become popular because of ethnic
recipes that use the intensity of the flavor in many ways.

Peppers are not only flavorful, their bright
variety of color have also made them a popular vegetable.

Peppers are big in Mexican dishes, because the hot, spicy peppers, such as cayenne and jalapeño, add a kick to the food that wouldn't be there otherwise.  Sweeter peppers, such as assorted bell or banana peppers, are sweet but still have a zesty undertone to their flavor, making them perfect for any kind of food, from tacos to salads.