u/NoAnt6694

Millions of years ago, the ancestors of the plants we call chili peppers had a dilemma: how could they discourage mammals from eating their fruit without deterring the birds they would have liked to eat the fruit (since the seeds were more likely to make it through a bird's digestive system intact). Their answer? A toxin called capsaicin, which instilled a burning sensation in the mouths of mammals but not birds. Then bipedal, mostly hairless primates called humans crossed the Bering Strait. When they came across these peppers, they actually liked the sensation capsaicin provided and were perfectly willing to eat them. While it might have seemed like the plants' strategy had backfired, humans developed agriculture and spread chili peppers to areas which they could never have reached on their own, so it was more of a win-win.

And yes, I know this kind of straddles the line between history and prehistory, and chili peppers didn't consciously choose this strategy, but I hope neither of these dampened your enjoyment of my meme.