Some botanical and culinary writers continue to confuse malagueta chili and melegueta pepper due simply to their similar names.

The spicy capsaicin content of the chilis must have aroused the interest of the Portuguese, who for decades have been looking for easier sources for the then-rare black pepper of Asia (the piquant compound in which is piperine); one of the major motivations for the Columbian voyages was to discover a new route to Asia for direct trade in spices, silks, and other Asian goods.

Although African slaves loved the grains of paradise already familiar in their culture, they were fascinated by the fiery Capsicum pepper.

Because of its qualities, less than a century after being brought to Europe this chili pepper spread to many other Old World cultures and became integrated with local cuisines, including in Arabia, India, Thailand, China, and surrounding regions.

In the municipality of Borba, Amazonas, Brazil, the malagueta pepper is also used to ward off the evil eye, which is rooted in feelings of envy.