Black pepper

The plant

Black pepper is a climbing plant, which, with the help of aerial roots, is able to climb high up into the vegetation. Black pepper is native to the rainforests in southwestern India, and it requires heat and a long rainy season to thrive well.

It is the fruits from the black pepper plant we use as peppercorns. The ripe fruits are red, about 5 mm in diameter, and they have one single seed. 

Black or white?

Black and white pepper comes from the same plant, that’s the way the fruits are processed that determines what kind of pepper you get. 

When you want to make black pepper, you pick the fruits before they are fully ripe and put them into boiling water for a short time, which causes them to turn black. Then they are dried in the sun for 3-4 days, and finally, the black wrinkled peppercorns are ready for use. If you want to make white pepper, you use the ripe red fruits and remove the pulp, So, when you are using white pepper, it is only the white seed you eat.

Economics

Black pepper is grown everywhere in the tropics where the climate is suitable. Vietnam is the world's largest producer. 

Economically, black pepper makes up 35% of the world's total spice trade, making pepper the world's most traded spice.

Fact box:

• Greenhouse location: Tropican house
• Danish name: Sort peber
• Latin name: Piper nigrum
• Family: Pebber family / Piperaceae
• Natural habitat: Southeastern India