In this recurring series, I’ll analyze the origins of Pokémon designs and their allusions to Mediterranean culture from Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.
Capsakid
Capsakid is a Grass-type Pokémon based on a spicy pepper. Its name is a combination of “Capsaicin” and “Kid”. Capsaicin is the component of peppers that give it a burning sensation when you taste it. In isolation, it can be used in some medical applications. It is also used to produce pepper spray.
Although you may not think of them this way, chili peppers, and all peppers, are classified as a kind of berry in that it is a fleshy fruit from a single ovary. They originated in the tropical regions of Peru and were cultivated in Mexico. The seeds can only germinate in tropical climates. One cultivar, the Padrôn pepper, grows in Galicia, Spain.
When Spain arrived and colonized Mexican territory, they brought back peppers to Europe. While the name is shared with Black Pepper, that is an entirely different spice from India whose name inspired the European name for the plant. In its original Aztec language it was simply known as ‘chili’.
Although Capsakid is green, chili peppers can come in a variety of colors.
The more sunlight this Pokémon bathes in, the more spicy chemicals are produced by its body, and thus the spicier its moves become.
Traditional Paldean dishes can be extremely spicy because they include the shed front teeth of Capsakid among their ingredients.
Pokédex
Capsakid has a bonnet on its head which alludes to its young age. Additionally, this bonnet resembles the stem of a pepper.
Caspakid’s beak and single tooth make it resemble a bird or a beaked dinosaur. Although its teeth might be used for food, the Pokédex implies the teeth naturally fall out. This is another allusion to its youth, as baby teeth fall out as they mature.
Scovillain
With a Fire Stone, Capsakid can evolve into Scovillain. Its name combines “Scoville” and “Villain”. It also gains the Fire-type.
The Scoville scale is a way to measure the heat intensity of a chili pepper. It was invented by Wilbur Scoville in 1912 by testing diluted versions of the dried chili pepper with expert tasters. As of today, the Pepper X is the world’s hottest chili pepper at nearly 2.7 million Scoville heat units (SHUs), although many cultivators are working to go beyond that. For reference, a Jalapeño is about 5000 SHUs.
The red head converts spicy chemicals into fire energy and blasts the surrounding area with a super spicy stream of flame.
The green head has turned vicious due to the spicy chemicals stimulating its brain. Once it goes on a rampage, there is no stopping it.
Pokédex
Scovillain grows a lot and gains a second head. One head remains green and the other turns red. Over the course of a chili pepper’s lifecycle, as it ripens, it can become even hotter and more colorful.
When a chili pepper gets especially hot, it can have a significant effect on humans. Like real heat, it can cause you to sweat or result in pain.
A research study on Chinese students showed regularly eating spicy foods led to heightened anxiety. Another study found that people who regularly eat spicy food also tend to be more aggressive. While these studies may have been done on small samples, there is some validity to the idea. Capsaicin activates the body’s pain receptors, which can trigger a fight-or-flight response.
Scovillain gains the signature move Spicy Extract which raises the opponent’s attack sharply while also reducing their defenses harshly. This is just like eating a hot pepper, which makes you more vulnerable while also making them more aggressive.
Conclusion
Scovillain is the only Grass/Fire-type Pokémon. Its distinctive typing and design make it especially unique. With its origins in Mexican and Spanish food culture, it is a hot Paldean Pokémon. Let us know what you think about it in the comments!
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