Cayenne pepper is ground from dried hot red chilli peppers (Capsicum annuum), with heat from capsaicin. Per teaspoon it provides useful vitamin A precursors (from beta-carotene and capsanthin), vitamin C (partially retained), and trace iron. Capsaicin has been researched for its thermogenic effects, pain relief applications, and cardiovascular benefits.
Start with a pinch — cayenne is significantly hotter than paprika. Capsaicin is fat-soluble; milk, yoghurt, or butter relieves the burning sensation faster than water.
Where Pepper, cayenne, ground Stands Out
Macronutrients per 100g
Vitamins & Minerals
| Nutrient | Per 100g | % Daily Value* | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (RE) | 6,135 µg | 876% | |
| Potassium | 2,010 mg | 101% | |
| Phosphorus | 290 mg | 41% | |
| Magnesium | 150 mg | 40% | |
| Calcium | 150 mg | 19% | |
| Iron | 34.1 mg | 244% | |
| Niacin equivalents (NE) | 11.3 mg | 71% | |
| Niacin (B3) | 8.70 mg | 54% | |
| Selenium | 4.00 µg | 7% | |
| Manganese | 2.30 mg | 115% | |
| Zinc | 2.00 mg | 20% | |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.920 mg | 66% | |
| Copper | 0.450 mg | 45% | |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.330 mg | 30% | |
| Vitamin C | 0.000 mg | 0% | |
| Folate | 0.000 µg | 0% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.000 µg | 0% | |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.000 µg | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) | 9.40 g | — | |
| Monounsaturated fat | 1.90 g | — | |
| Maltose | 0.000 g | — | |
| Cholesterol | 0.000 mg | — | |
| Beta-carotene | 36,810 µg | — | |
| Retinol (vitamin A) | 0.000 µg | 0% |
* % Daily Value is the proportion of an adult
EU Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) supplied by 100g of this food.
NRVs are the labelling standard — the same basis as the “%RI” figures printed on
food packaging — so these percentages are directly comparable with a shop label.
They are a single adult figure and do not vary by age or sex, which is why they
sometimes differ from UK dietary reference values: the NRV for vitamin C is 80mg
where the UK RNI is 40mg. When Nutriofia assesses your own intake in the
reports and trackers, it uses the age- and sex-specific UK values instead.
Fibre is shown without a percentage. Our fibre values use the UK
Englyst NSP method, while the published 30g daily goal is an AOAC figure — the two
are measured differently and a single percentage would mislead.
How we source and normalise our data →
Phytochemicals
Bioactive plant compounds — not classified as essential nutrients but associated with a range of health benefits.