1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 438 1-3 WHEREAS, The Lone Star State's reputation as a haven for 1-4 lovers of hot and spicy food is well deserved, and the native 1-5 chiltepin pepper has contributed greatly to this proud legacy; and 1-6 WHEREAS, A member of the genus Capsicum, the chiltepin grows 1-7 wild in our temperate climate and is both undeniably American and 1-8 typically Texan; its distinctive flavor makes it ideal for hearty 1-9 stews and red-hot Texas chili, and it is a staple in many Tex-Mex 1-10 favorites; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Even the mockingbird, our state bird, recognizes 1-12 the appeal of this piquant pod, choosing to dine on it almost 1-13 exclusively when the pepper is in season; wild turkeys, too, are 1-14 often seen feeding on these tasty little morsels, and these and 1-15 other fruit-eating wild birds play a vital role in the chiltepin's 1-16 proliferation; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Found in abundance from the southern United States 1-18 to northern South America, the chiltepin has been used for many 1-19 years by the various peoples who have populated our great state; 1-20 known variously as "chile mosquito" and "chile bravo," the Spanish 1-21 described this zesty fruit as "arrebatado," meaning that although 1-22 its spiciness is immediate and intense, this bold sensation does 1-23 not linger long; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The chiltepin is used in both fresh and dried forms, 2-2 combined with vinegar to make a tangy sauce or sprinkled into soup 2-3 to provide just the right seasoning; perhaps the most amazing 2-4 attribute of this indigenous spice is that it has been shown to 2-5 increase the human metabolism by as much as 25 percent, making it 2-6 a promising means of controlling weight gain; and 2-7 WHEREAS, The chiltepin's storied history even includes 2-8 a footnote to one of our greatest American presidents, 2-9 Thomas Jefferson; an avid gardener, President Jefferson acquired 2-10 some of these exotic tiny peppers from a fellow horticulturist 2-11 and displayed a keen interest in establishing a market for this 2-12 Texas pepper; and 2-13 WHEREAS, It is important to acknowledge and promote our 2-14 endemic natural resources, for they are an integral part of our 2-15 heritage and help to make us recognizable to other cultures around 2-16 the globe; the chiltepin is Texas' only native pepper, and its 2-17 long history and wide variety of uses make it truly deserving of 2-18 special recognition and endorsement; now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-20 75th Legislature, hereby recognize the chiltepin as the State 2-21 Native Pepper of Texas. 2-22 Moncrief 2-23 ______________________________________ 2-24 President of the Senate 2-25 I hereby certify that the above 2-26 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-27 on April 3, 1997. 2-28 ______________________________________ 3-1 Secretary of the Senate 3-2 ______________________________________ 3-3 Member, Texas Senate