1-1     By:  Carter (Senate Sponsor - Moncrief)               H.C.R. No. 82

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1997;

 1-3     May 13, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on

 1-4     Administration; May 18, 1997, reported favorably by the following

 1-5     vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 18, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                         HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-7           WHEREAS, The Lone Star State's reputation as a haven for

 1-8     lovers of hot and spicy food is well deserved, and the native

 1-9     chiltepin pepper has contributed greatly to this proud legacy; and

1-10           WHEREAS, A member of the genus Capsicum, the chiltepin grows

1-11     wild in our temperate climate and is both undeniably American and

1-12     typically Texan; its distinctive flavor makes it ideal for hearty

1-13     stews and red-hot Texas chili, and it is a staple in many Tex-Mex

1-14     favorites; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Even the mockingbird, our state bird, recognizes the

1-16     appeal of this piquant pod, choosing to dine on it almost

1-17     exclusively when the pepper is in season; wild turkeys, too, are

1-18     often seen feeding on these tasty little morsels, and these and

1-19     other fruit-eating wild birds play a vital role in the chiltepin's

1-20     proliferation; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Found in abundance from the southern United States

1-22     to northern South America, the chiltepin has been used for many

1-23     years by the various peoples who have populated our great state;

1-24     known variously as chile mosquito and chile bravo, the Spanish

1-25     described this zesty fruit as "arrebatado," meaning that although

1-26     its spiciness is immediate and intense, this bold sensation does

1-27     not linger long; and

1-28           WHEREAS, The chiltepin is used in both fresh and dried forms,

1-29     combined with vinegar to make a tangy sauce or sprinkled into soup

1-30     to provide just the right seasoning; perhaps the most amazing

1-31     attribute of this indigenous spice is that it has been shown to

1-32     increase the human metabolism by as much as 25 percent, making it a

1-33     promising means of controlling weight gain; and

1-34           WHEREAS, The chiltepin's storied history even includes a

1-35     footnote to one of our greatest American presidents, Thomas

1-36     Jefferson; an avid gardener, President Jefferson acquired some of

1-37     these exotic tiny peppers from a fellow horticulturist and

1-38     displayed a keen interest in establishing a market for this Texas

1-39     pepper; and

1-40           WHEREAS, It is important to acknowledge and promote our

1-41     endemic natural resources, for they are an integral part of our

1-42     heritage and help to make us recognizable to other cultures around

1-43     the globe; the chiltepin is Texas' only native pepper, and its long

1-44     history and wide variety of uses make it truly deserving of special

1-45     recognition and endorsement; now, therefore, be it

1-46           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-47     hereby declare the chiltepin the official State Native Pepper of

1-48     Texas.

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