<Tr> <Th> Heat </Th> <Td> Hot </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Scoville scale </Th> <Td> 15,000--30,000 SHU </Td> </Tr> <P> Peperoncino (Italian: (peperonˈtʃiːno); plural peperoncini (- ni); sometimes spelled pepperoncino or pepperoncini in English) is the generic Italian name for hot chili peppers, specifically the cultivars of the species Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens . The sweet pepper is called peperone (plural peperoni) in Italian . </P> <P> The peperoncino probably came to Italy in the early 16th century, subsequent to Christopher Columbus having taken samples from the New World to Europe in 1492 . Like the tomato, the peperoncino was first considered a decorative and possibly poisonous plant before it was adopted into Italian cuisine . It might have become popular as a food long before the cookbooks attest to its use . These cookbooks were written for the upper classes, while the peperoncino was a cheap and convenient food for the lower classes . </P>

What kind of peppers are used for pepperoncini