Black Pepper

Today, blackpepper still accounts for one-fifth ofthe world's spice trade. However, India is no longer the world'sprimary producer of black pepper. Vietnamnow leads the export market, followed by Indonesia,Brazil, Malaysia, and India, respectively.

Black pepper was a major of the EuropeanAge of Exploration beginning in the 15th century. Trade routes to India and othersources of coveted spices were extremely valuable, and the countries thatcontrolled them controlled the European economy. During the Age of Exploration,pepper became more plentiful in Europe and people of average means became able to affordit.

Though blackpepper is a staple on kitchen tablesaround the world today, it was once so valuable it was used as money. In theancient world, the most important source of blackpepper was India'sMalabar Coast, the southwest coast of thecountry. The spice was traded with nearby countries, eventually making its wayto China, Greece, Egypt,and the Roman Empire, though only the richest could afford it outside of South Asia.

Blackpeppercorns are hard and must typically be ground in order to be edible.However, ground pepper loses its flavorquickly. Most chefs recommend grinding blackpepper as needed, immediately beforeadding it to food, in order to retain the most flavor.

Black pepper is made from the unripe, green fruit ofthe pepper plant, which is cooked in hotwater, then dried. The hot water serves to clean the peppercorns and to rupturetheir skin, which speeds the work of browning as the fruit isdried. The peppercorns are either left in the sun to dry or dried by machine.The skin becomes dark and wrinkled and the fruit hardens during the dryingprocess.

The fruit of the Piper nigrum consistsof small berries that start out green and become a deep red when fully ripe. Black pepperis only one of the products that can be made from peppercorns. White pepper, green pepper,and pink pepper are other varieties.

Black pepper is a spice or seasoning common in manycuisines. It is made from the unripe fruit, or , ofthe Piper nigrum plant, a flowering vine native to South India. Black pepper is usually ground for use in foods.

Black Pepper (Organic & Non-Organic)