Red Thai Chilli peppers are often used as a garnish and are used whole or minced to flavor sauces, oils, and pastes. Red Thai chile peppers, botanically classified as Capsicum annuum, are mature pods that belong to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. The name Thai chile is a general descriptor used to encompass many different varieties of peppers commonly used in Thailand that share a similar size, shape, and spice level.