Is pepperoni spicy because it has pepper in it?

Yes, the cayenne pepper is very pungent. There is such a thing as mild pepperoni, but it just tastes like plain sausage.

Since we’re on it; what’s oni?

^ I think it’s an area of the pig that we don’t want to know about.

Not that area, right?

That area!

“Pepperoni” is a phonetic spelling of the Italian “peperone”, which means “bell pepper” (literally it just means “big pepper”). Funny because bell peppers are not spicy. Pepperoni is usually flavored with paprika and chili pepper.