Black Pepper

Black Pepper

Black pepper, or Piper nigrum, is a flowering vine native to the Malabar Coast of India and is cultivated for its fruit know as peppercorn.

History

Evidence of people using black pepper in its native area dates back 4,000 years, and it became an important staple of overland trade between India and Europe.

The Venetians virtual monopoly on it helped instigate Columbus’ search for an easter sea route.

Today it is still the most popular spice in the world and produced all over Southeast Asia with Vietnam being the largest grower.

Harvest

A pepper plant takes four years to mature but can be harvested for seven years afterwards. The peppercorns are harvested when one or two clusters of fruit on a low-hanging stem begin to turn red. If left for too long on the vine, the plant can be over watered which will destroy the harvest.

Anatomy

The woody climber may reach heights of 33 feet and produces flowers with dense slender spikes of about 50 blossoms each.

Etymology

The word pepper comes from the Old English word pipor that mean long pepper. In the 16th century, people began using pepper to also mean the Capsicum found in the New World.

Black Pepper

Black pepper or Piper nigrum is a flowering vine native to the Malabar Coast of India and is cultivated for its fruit know as peppercorn.

History

Evidence of people using black pepper in its native area dates back 4,000 years, and it became an important staple of overland trade between India and Europe. The Venetians virtual monopoly on it helped instigate Columbus’ search for an easter sea route. Today it is still the most popular spice in the world.

Harvest

The plant requires a long rainy season, fairly high temperatures, and partial shade for best growth. The woody climber may reach heights of 33 ft and produces flowers with dense slender spikes of about 50 blossoms each.

Anatomy

Black pepper is produced by briefly cooking the unripe peppercorn in hot water to clean and prepare them for drying. The peppercorn is then dried in the sun for several days which causes the skin to shrink and darken into a think, wrinkled black layer.

Etymology

The word pepper comes from the Old English word pipor that mean long pepper. In the 16th century, people began using pepper to also mean the Capsicum found in the New World.