Chili powder - Definition and Overview

Chili powder is a spice mix consisting of various ratios of dried ground chile peppers, cumin, garlic and oregano. As the name suggests, it is used to spice chili as well as many other dishes. Many people make their own chili powder, but many versions are available commercially.

There is some disagreement about the origin of manufactured chili powder. The two men generally credited with marketing the first commerical chili powder blends were William Gebhardt and D.C. Pendry.

Pendry ran a Mexican grocery supply company in Ft. Worth, Texas. He began manufacturing and marketing his blend of chili powder in about 1890, encouraging its use by people who were unfamiliar with it by supplying recipes to restaurants in the area.

William Gebhardt was a German immigrant to New Braunfels, Texas. He served chili in his his cafe, flavored with his own blend of chili powder. He starting selling the blend in about 1894 under the brand name Gebhardt's Eagle Brand Chili Powder.

Commonly confused with chile powder, which is pronounced similarly.