How did black pepper become a global culinary phenomenon. What makes this spice so unique and versatile. Why was pepper once considered as valuable as gold. How has the cultivation and trade of black pepper shaped world history.

The Origins and Botany of Black Pepper

Black pepper, scientifically known as Piper nigrum, is a flowering vine native to the Malabar region of India. This tropical plant produces small, berry-like fruits called drupes, which are harvested and processed to create the familiar black peppercorns we use in our kitchens today.

The name “pepper” has fascinating linguistic roots. It derives from the Sanskrit word “pippali,” which referred to long pepper. This term evolved into the Greek “peperi” and Latin “piper,” eventually spreading to numerous languages worldwide.

How are peppercorns produced?

The journey from vine to spice rack involves several steps:

1. Drupes grow in clusters called “spikes” on the pepper vine.
2. Harvesters pick the drupes while still green.
3. The picked drupes undergo a fermentation process.
4. Sun-drying causes the drupes to shrivel and darken, becoming peppercorns.
5. The dried peppercorns are sorted and packaged for distribution.

Interestingly, the timing of harvest and specific processing methods can yield different types of peppercorns, including black, white, green, and even red varieties. Black peppercorns, the most common type, result from picking the drupes while green and allowing them to ferment before drying.

The Global Dominance of Black Pepper

Black pepper holds a unique position in the world of spices. It accounts for a staggering 20% of all spice trade globally, making it the most widely traded spice on Earth. This popularity isn’t a recent phenomenon – pepper has been highly prized for thousands of years.

Which countries lead pepper production today?

As of 2019, the top producers of black pepper were:

• Vietnam
• Indonesia
• Brazil
• India
• Malaysia

While India was historically the primary source of pepper, cultivation has spread to various tropical regions worldwide. This expansion has helped meet the ever-growing global demand for this essential spice.

Black Pepper’s Journey Through History

The story of black pepper is inextricably linked to the history of global trade, exploration, and culinary evolution. Its influence on world events is difficult to overstate.

When did pepper first reach the Western world?

Pepper’s introduction to the West can be traced back to the 4th century BC, following the conquests of Alexander the Great. This marked the beginning of a spice trade that would shape economies and drive exploration for centuries to come.

In ancient times, pepper was so valuable that it earned the nickname “black gold.” Its worth was comparable to precious metals, and it served multiple functions beyond seasoning food:

• Currency for paying taxes
• Tribute to rulers and conquerors
• Part of dowries in marriage arrangements
• Rent payments

The extreme value placed on pepper is evident in historical events. When Rome fell to invaders in 410 AD, the ransom demanded included 3,000 pounds of pepper – a testament to its immense worth at the time.

Pepper’s Role in the Age of Exploration

The desire for direct access to pepper and other spices was a driving force behind the Age of Exploration in the 15th century. European powers sought to bypass existing trade routes controlled by Arab and Venetian merchants, leading to momentous voyages of discovery.

How did pepper influence the discovery of the Americas?

In a twist of historical irony, Christopher Columbus’s voyage – intended to find a direct route to India’s pepper plantations – led to the discovery of the Americas. This monumental mistake even resulted in the misnaming of Native Americans as “Indians,” a term that persists in some contexts to this day.

The exploration driven by pepper trade had far-reaching consequences:

• Establishment of new trade routes
• Cultural exchanges between distant civilizations
• Colonization of new territories
• Introduction of new foods and spices to different parts of the world

The Culinary Evolution of Black Pepper

While pepper’s historical importance often centered on its value as a trade commodity, its primary use has always been culinary. The spice’s journey from luxury item to everyday seasoning reflects broader changes in global cuisine and food accessibility.

How has pepper’s role in cooking changed over time?

In ancient Rome, pepper was a status symbol, used liberally in the kitchens of the wealthy to showcase their affluence. During the Middle Ages in Europe, it remained a marker of fine cuisine, its presence on the table a sign of prosperity.

Today, pepper has become ubiquitous in Western kitchens. It’s often paired with salt as a basic seasoning duo, found on restaurant tables and in home kitchens worldwide. This shift from luxury to staple ingredient represents a democratization of flavor, making once-exotic tastes accessible to people of all backgrounds.

The Science of Pepper’s Flavor

Black pepper’s distinctive taste and aroma are the result of complex chemical compounds. Understanding these elements helps explain why pepper has maintained its popularity across cultures and centuries.

What gives black pepper its characteristic heat?

The compound primarily responsible for pepper’s spicy kick is piperine. This alkaloid stimulates the nerve endings in our mouths, creating the sensation of heat. Interestingly, piperine is different from capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their fiery taste.

Black pepper contains between 2-4% essential oils, which contribute to its complex flavor profile. Tasting notes associated with black pepper include:

• Bitter
• Woody (often described as cedar-like)
• Musty
• Pine-like
• Terpene notes (similar to some aromatic herbs)

The flavor of pepper can vary based on factors such as origin, age, and maturity. Tellicherry peppercorns from India are often considered the highest quality, prized for their complex and robust flavor profile.

Pepper Varieties and Processing Methods

While we often think of pepper simply as the ground black spice in our shakers, there’s a wide world of pepper varieties, each with unique characteristics and uses.

What are the main types of peppercorns?

The Piper nigrum plant produces several types of peppercorns, depending on how they’re processed:

• Black peppercorns: The most common variety, made from green drupes that are fermented and dried.
• White peppercorns: Created by soaking ripe peppercorns to remove the outer layer, resulting in a milder flavor.
• Green peppercorns: Unripe drupes that are quickly dried or preserved to maintain their green color.
• Red peppercorns: Fully ripe drupes, less common and often preserved in brine.

It’s worth noting that “pink peppercorns” are not true peppercorns at all, but rather the dried berries of a different plant species.

How do different processing methods affect pepper’s flavor?

The way peppercorns are harvested and processed significantly impacts their final flavor:

1. Drying method: Sun-drying versus mechanical drying can affect the development of flavor compounds.
2. Fermentation time: Longer fermentation periods can result in more complex flavors.
3. Grinding: Freshly ground pepper retains more volatile oils, providing a more potent flavor than pre-ground pepper.

These variations in processing contribute to the diverse range of pepper flavors available to chefs and home cooks alike.

Black Pepper in Modern Cuisine

Today, black pepper has transcended its historical role as a luxury spice to become a fundamental element in kitchens worldwide. Its versatility and ability to enhance a wide range of dishes have cemented its place in global cuisine.

How is black pepper used in contemporary cooking?

Black pepper’s culinary applications are nearly limitless:

• As a table condiment, often paired with salt
• In spice blends and rubs for meats
• To add depth to soups, stews, and sauces
• In baked goods, particularly savory pastries
• As a finishing touch on salads and vegetables
• In some cultures, it’s even used in sweet dishes or beverages

The trend towards using freshly ground pepper has grown in recent years, as many chefs and food enthusiasts appreciate the more vibrant flavor it provides compared to pre-ground pepper.

Are there health benefits associated with black pepper?

Beyond its culinary uses, black pepper has been studied for potential health benefits:

• Improved digestion: Pepper may stimulate the production of digestive enzymes.
• Enhanced nutrient absorption: Piperine has been shown to increase the bioavailability of certain nutrients.
• Antioxidant properties: Pepper contains compounds that may help combat oxidative stress in the body.
• Potential anti-inflammatory effects: Some studies suggest pepper may have mild anti-inflammatory properties.

While more research is needed to fully understand these effects, they add an intriguing dimension to pepper’s already impressive resume.

The Future of Black Pepper

As we look to the future, black pepper’s role in global cuisine and commerce continues to evolve. While it may no longer be worth its weight in gold, pepper remains an invaluable part of our culinary landscape.

What challenges face the pepper industry today?

The pepper industry, like many agricultural sectors, faces several challenges:

• Climate change: Shifting weather patterns may affect traditional growing regions.
• Sustainability concerns: Ensuring environmentally responsible cultivation practices.
• Market fluctuations: Balancing supply and demand in a global market.
• Pest and disease management: Protecting crops while minimizing chemical use.

These challenges present opportunities for innovation in cultivation techniques, processing methods, and even the development of new pepper varieties.

How might pepper consumption trends change in the coming years?

Several factors could influence future pepper consumption:

1. Growing interest in global cuisines may introduce new pepper-based spice blends to wider audiences.
2. Increased focus on fresh, whole ingredients might boost demand for high-quality, single-origin peppercorns.
3. Ongoing research into pepper’s health benefits could drive new uses beyond traditional culinary applications.
4. Sustainable and ethical sourcing may become more important to consumers, affecting purchasing decisions.

As our understanding of this ancient spice continues to grow, it’s likely that black pepper will remain a central figure in kitchens and cuisines around the world, adapting to new tastes and technologies while maintaining its timeless appeal.

Black Pepper – McCormick Science Institute

Description

Black pepper is obtained from the small dried berries (peppercorns) of the vine Piper nigrum.  The name pepper is derived from the Sanskrit name of long pepper, pippali.  That word gave rise to the Greek peperi and Latin piper.  Pepper goes by many names in different languages such as hu jiao (Chinese), kali mirch (Hindi), pimienta (Spanish), fulful / filfil (Arabic), poivre (French), pepe (Italian), and pfeffer (German)(1).

Botany

Black pepper is native to Malabar, a tropical region on the Western Coast of Southern India (part of the Indian state of Kerala). The pepper vine is a perennial ivy-like climber which adheres itself to a support tree or man-made structure. The small (about 0.2 inches), round, berry-like fruits (known as “drupes”) grow in clusters called “spikes”.  A dried drupe is known as a “peppercorn”.   Depend­ing on harvest time and pro­cessing, pepper­corns can be black, white, green, or red. 

Black peppercorns are the most prevalent type harvested. For black pepper, peppercorn berries are picked while still green, allowed to ferment, and are sun-dried until they shrivel and turn a brownish-black color (1, 2). 

Botanically, black pepper is a member of the Piperaceae (pepper family).  

While there is only one main culinary species, there are various grades/varieties of pepper identified by their geographic origin such as: Malabar/Alleppey (India), Tellicherry (India), Cochin (India), Sarawak (Malaysia), Lampong (Sumatra/Indonesia), and Belem (Brazil) (1).   

Peppercorns are the most widely traded spice in the world, accounting for 20% of the world trade in spices. In 2019, the following countries produced most of the world’s black pepper: Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, India, and Malaysia (3).

History & Folklore

Black pepper, nicknamed as ‘black gold’ and the ‘king of spices’, is the most important and widely consumed spice in the world. Pepper has grown in India for thousands of years and was first introduced to the West after the global conquests of Alexander the Great (4th century BC). Pepper was so precious in ancient times that it was used as money to pay taxes, tributes, dowries, and rent. It was weighed like gold and used as a common medium of exchange. In AD 410, when Rome was captured, 3,000 pounds of pepper were demanded as ransom.

Pepper was used in ancient Roman cuisine and became a status symbol of fine medieval European cookery.  In fact, pepper was so popular in Europe that it helped fuel the age of age of exploration (AD 15th century). For centuries, pepper was only grown in a small region of India (Malabar), and throughout history different cultures held a monopoly on the trade (Arabs, Venetians, Portuguese, and British). In an attempt to establish direct trade with Indian pepper plantations, Christopher Columbus inadvertently stumbled upon the Americas and consequently mislabeled the native inhabitants as “Indians”.  It is interesting to note that a completely unrelated species (chili peppers from the Capsicum family) are referred to as “red pepper”. Chili peppers, which are native to the Americas, were originally introduced to Europe as a substitute for black pepper due to their pungent flavor (1).  

Epicurean Facts 

Appearance  

The outer layer of a dried black peppercorn (known as the “pericarp”) is dark brown/black and wrinkled in appearance.  The inside part contains a large seed which is lighter in color. This is why cracked and ground pepper seems lighter in color than whole peppercorns. White pepper is made from ripe peppercorns that are soaked to remove the outer layer and is therefore lighter in color.  

Flavor Characteristics

Bitter, cardboard, cedar/woody, heat, musty, oxidized lime, pine, soapy, and terpene-like (4)

Tasting Notes

Black pepper contains between 2-4% essential oils and the compound “piperine” is responsible for its characteristic spicy heat.  Differences in age, terroir, and maturity can lead to variations in pepper flavor. Tellicherry pepper (from India) is widely considered to be the highest quality and most flavorful variety of black pepper.  

Culinary Uses

Dried, ground black pepper is one of the most common spices in Western cuisine. Usually referred to simply as “pepper”, it can be found on nearly every dinner table in many parts of the world, often alongside table salt.  Because pepper has a relatively low moisture content, it can be stored for many years without losing its flavor and aroma (especially when in its whole peppercorn form).   

Black Pepper adds flavor to almost every food of every nation in the world. It is used in rubs, spice blends, salad dressings, and peppercorn blends. Pepper features prominently in several Arabic spice mixtures such as zhoug, baharat, and berebere. In Indian cooking, it is a component of garam masala and in France it is a main constituent of quatre épices (along with cloves, nutmeg, and dried ginger). In the United States, a combination of dried lemon and black pepper called “lemon pepper” is a popular seasoning for fish.  

Cooking Tips

Black pepper is available whole, cracked, and ground but gourmet cooks prefer freshly ground peppercorns. Many savory dishes can be finished with freshly ground black pepper from a pepper mill. A coarse grind is desirable for dishes such as pepper-crusted steak. Larger amounts of peppercorns can be ground using a spice mill.  The flavor of black pepper mellows with cooking. That is one reason why the pepper shaker on the table is so important.   A dash of ground pepper, applied as each diner prefers, will perk up any cooked meal.

Black pepper is a staple in most American kitchens, but white pepper is more popular in French, Chinese, Vietamese, and Swedish cooking. Use care when substituting one for the other as the American palette is not always used to the stronger ‘musty’ type flavor typical of white pepper.  

Did you know that pastry chefs in fine dining restaurants include black pepper in all kinds of desserts. It’s an especially delicious surprise in chocolate sweets, from fudge brownies, chocolate layer cake to chocolate truffles.

References

1. “Pepper (Piper nigrum L.)”. Gernot Katzer’s Spice Pages. 2015.  http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/Pipe_nig.html Retrieved 22 February 2021
2. Zachariah, T. John, and V. A. Parthasarathy. “Black pepper.” Chemistry of spices 196 (2008): 21.
3. “Global Pepper (piper spp.) production quantity in 2019; Crops/Regions/World Regions/Production Quantity (pick lists)”. UN Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT). 2019. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC Retrieved 22 February 2021.
4. Lawless, Lydia JR, Annette Hottenstein, and John Ellingsworth. “The McCormick spice wheel: a systematic and visual approach to sensory lexicon development.” Journal of sensory studies 27.1 (2012): 37-47.

Black Pepper History and Few Other Interesting Facts

Is a pepper a fruit? What are the benefits of black pepper? Where does black pepper come from? Have you ever wondered where the term pepper price came from?  This is about black pepper history and how it became so used and popular in kitchens all over the world. This is a story of the plant and spice, but also of ancient civilisations, greed, wars, the discovery of America and other great explorations and, of course, cooking.

Black pepper is today an indispensable spice in every kitchen, what
makes it the most commonly used spice in the world. Some may argue that salt is
the most used condiment in the kitchen, but salt technically is not a spice,
but a mineral.

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However, pepper is only recently accessible and a cheap commodity
on the shelves of supermarkets. The history of pepper goes back 4000 years and
the demand for it has had a tremendous impact on the shaping of modern
civilization. Before the oil, the term “black gold” referred to the pepper.

Pepper originates from Southern India, around city Kerala. The
plant pepper (lat. Piper nigrum) belongs to climbing plants from the family
Piperaceae, that is grown for their fruit which gives spice  – pepper. According to botanists, every plant
that has seeds is a fruit, so for this reason the pepper is considered a fruit.

The first records of pepper date back to 2000 years BC when it was
mentioned in ancient Indian writings, and peppercorns were found in the
nostrils of the pharaoh Ramses II. Pepper was well known to the ancient Romans,
so the Roman historian Plinius Elder wrote about pepper in his work on Natural
History from the first century AD. There is also a well-preserved cookbook from
the 3rd Century De Re Coguinaria, where pepper is an integral part of almost
every dish.

Pliny states the prices of pepper, but also writes that:
“Long pepper … is fifteen denarii per pound, while that of white pepper
is seven, and of black, four”, which is a quite high price for that time.
Let’s just say the soldier’s salary was around 30 denarii per month. However,
Pliny, fond of moralizing, raises another very important question:

“Pepper has nothing in it that can plead as a recommendation to
either fruit or berry, its only desirable quality being a certain pungency; and
yet it is for this that we import it all the way from India! Who was the first
to make trial of it as an article of food? And who, I wonder, was the man that
was not content to prepare himself by hunger only for the satisfying of a
greedy appetite?

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What makes pepper so desirable? What are the benefits of black pepper?
Answering this question is not easy, but we will try to explore it.

First, the most important reason why spices are used is to improve
the taste of food, but through history, spices also had a secondary purpose. Interesting
fact is, in the absence of a toothbrush and toothpaste, people used spices to
remove or at least reduce the bad breath. Pepper was very good for this purpose
because, except for the strong flavour, it was believed that it had antiseptic
properties.

Here is another reason for the demand for pepper, medical. It was
believed that pepper helps with toothache, constipation, insomnia, sunburn and
many other illnesses.

In addition, pepper reduces the formation of gases, stimulates
urination and sweating to release toxins from the body.

Pepper is used to alleviate respiratory problems, and has antibacterial properties, but also has the potential as antioxidants. List of all health benefits from black pepper is long.

There are some researches which indicate
it has antitumor properties as well.

It is useful in losing weight, since the outer coat of peppercorn
positively affects the breakdown of fat cells in the body.

The third reason why the pepper was so desired and such an expensive
commodity is that it can significantly shape the human history is simple –
prestige. Having pepper on desk was a matter of prestige and show of wealth.

Thus, a pinch of pepper meant more delicious food, better
digestion, lack of bad breath, and also a better health and position in
society. Taking all this into consideration, it is clear why pepper was such a
desired commodity.

In Europe pepper demand has logically stimulated pepper trade, and
since it is grown in India, it has created a number of logistical problems,
resulting in a demand that is always higher than the supply, and hence a high
price. Pepper has thus become a synonym for a high price or – a pepper price. Hence, that term.

Peppercorn price hung up Alaric, King of the Visigoths, when he
besieged Rome. In exchange for dragging and not destroying the city, he sought
gold and silver from the Romans, but it is quite interesting, he did not forget
to add either 3000 pounds of pepper.

After Alaric, Rome did not last long and with the collapse of Rome
in 476AD, Europe was plunged into the Dark Ages. The spice trade moved
eastward, taken over by the Eastern Roman Empire known as Byzantium, and more so
by Islamic merchants.

After the fall of Rome, the spice market was completely disrupted,
and those who first exploited the opportunity was the small Italian cities –
Venice and Genoa. Skilful merchants from these cities joined Islamic ones and
began trading spices, mostly pepper. The Venetian Republic, one of the greats powers
of the Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries, emerged from this trade and
pepper contributed to this rise. According to some written records from that
time at the end of the 15th century, only merchants from Alexandria exported
400 tons of black pepper per year to Venice, and the Venetians earned a 40%
margin on it.

Constantinople, and therefore Byzantium, 1453 g. fell in the hands
of the new emerging power – the Ottoman Empire. By conquering the Arabian
Peninsula and Egypt, the Turks now controlled the entire spice trade from the
east. In addition to the conquest, the Turks had another disadvantage for
Europeans – they were excellent merchants and had a monopoly on pepper trade in
Europe, which meant – bigger price.

The Venetians continued to trade with the Turks, this time under
Turkish conditions. However, in other countries, adventurers have appeared
willing to challenge the position of Venice as the main spice importer and
trader. One such was Christopher Columbus. He managed to persuade the Spanish
royal couple Izabela I and Ferdinand II, to finance his journey to search East
India by sailing west. Columbus was one of the first who accepted the
Copernican realization that the earth is round, which at that time was very
bold, considering the then current Church teaching and preferences of religious
inquisition to burn down opponents.

In 1493 Columbus, with his three ships, went on a journey that
would later prove to be one of the most important in the history of mankind, as
he found a new continent – latterly known as America. However, Columbo was firm
in his belief that he had found the East coast of India. Due to this blunder,
the locals found there he called the Indians, and that name remained to them
today, even though they had absolutely no connection with India. However, this
was not the end of his self-esteem as he was in India. Among other things, he
found a new plant – chilli peppers, whose fruits were a bit like pepper, and
called it a red pepper. If you have noticed the similar etymological origin of
paprika and pepper in different languages, even though these two plants have no
similarity – it should also thank to Columbus. And now most interesting fact. Because
of his ignorance, the new continent he discovered was named America, by another
researcher Amerigo Vespucci, simply because he was the first to realise that this
was a new continent.

In any case, Spaniards had discovered a new continent, but neither
were the Portuguese were sitting idly. Vasco da Gamma only a few years later
circumnavigated the Africa and really came to India, as he said to the Sultan
who ruled there, in search for Christians and spices. It was the beginning of
the Portuguese dominance of the pepper trade. Thus, Portuguese king Manuel
himself has taken the right to have a monopoly over pepper trade, and therefore
French king Francois I called him “le roi épicier”, meaning “the
grocer king”. But the grocer king sold about 2 million pounds of pepper
each year as it came from the Malabar coast and raised millions of cruzados.
And then the pepper had 70% of the total spice trade. Very hypocritical
statement Francois, given that he had a serious problem with his state treasury.

New founded trade routes solved the distribution problem, which is
why prices have fallen and pepper has become available to a somewhat larger
number of citizens. This was the time when pepper entered the regional and
national cuisine of almost all European countries, alongside then traditional
spices. At this time, well-known spice blends such as quatre in France, Cajun
and jerk blends in New World, garam masala in India, ras el hanout in Morocco,
and many others are being created.

During the 16th Century, Portugal and Spain, due to newly
discovered territories and trade routes, continued to build their colonial
empires. It did not go unnoticed by another state that has just ruled out the
Spanish occupation – the Netherlands. In order to finance travel and find new
colonies and trade routes, the Netherlands have invented a new way of financing
–  selling bonds and shares of stock to
the general public. This will later become known as the
first stock exchange. Although Italian cities knew the system of
transferable government bonds, it was not a stock exchange in today’s sense of
the word. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was the first company in the world
to issue shares to capitalize, and with these shares it they were later traded
freely on a permanent market.

Later, the company became the first multinational company, in
today’s sense of the word, and the first company constantly listed on the stock
exchange. And at one point it was the most valuable company in the world.

Over time, the Netherlands pushed down the Portuguese and took control
of the shipping routes through which spices came into Europe. However, neither
their domination lasted for a long time, as another superpower became
interested in spice trade – the United Kingdom. This lead to several wars
between the Dutch and the United Kingdom, which ultimately resulted in the
victory of the British, the takeover of trade routes and a bit later with
collapse of the Dutch East India Company.

The British have the merit of making pepper widely available,
improving the production and supply of pepper to Europe. Thanks to them, the
pepper will go out of history and will increasingly enter the cuisine.

Thus, during the 16th and 17th centuries as Pepper spread across
Europe and entered the kitchens of wider range of population. The pepper has
lost its prestige as a luxury good and suddenly it was not so prestigious to use
pepper. However, during the period of the Enlightenment in France in the 18th
century pepper was back in a big way. Francois Pierre de la Varenne, was the
first, let’s call it a celebrity chef in France, and in his works, he promoted
the use of pepper together with salt. His “invention” will be held to
this day, and this is certainly one of the proofs that the Enlightenment was
not only politically and scientifically oriented but brought some of the new
revolutionary ideas in the kitchen as well.

Today, pepper is the most widely used spice in the world, and it
is considered that 20% of the total spice trade is pepper. Production balance has shifted, so it is the world’s
largest producer of pepper is Vietnam. One more quite interesting fact, the
largest producers in the world with more than 1/3 of the world’s total
production, Vietnam exports virtually all the production, since the Vietnamese do
not use pepper in their diet. India is only in third place, even behind
Indonesia.

Unlike Vietnamese, the peoples of the United States are the
biggest pepper buyers. Over $ 650 million worth of pepper is being imported
into the US and this makes them to the second largest consumers per capita. The
largest pepper consumers per capita are Tunisians, who use a quarter-pound of
pepper per capita each year.

Finally, let’s mention, today there are over 2000 types of pepper,
and the most common are:

• Black pepper – is obtained by picking green grains, and then
  without any processing dried in the sun. Black pepper is most commonly used in
  the kitchen.
• White pepper – obtained by levying red, nearly ripe berries, that
  are then moistened to be able to remove outside layer, and only then dried.
  White pepper has a slightly milder flavour than black, and also is considered
  to be healthier.
• Red pepper – is obtained from fully ripe, red beans, which are
  dipped in salt water, then frozen or quickly dried. Its smell is most often
  described as a mixture of pepper and lemon.
• Green pepper – is obtained by picking the grain before ripening.
  The grain process is the same as that of a red pepper.

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How pepper has affected the world

Do you like spicy and spicy things? You are lucky that you were born in our time: black pepper, like many other spices, has long been an unaffordable luxury for most people. Why did it happen?

Jan 26, 2016 12:34

Four millennia ago, black pepper became popular in its homeland, India. It was used here not at all as a spice, but as a medicine: historians find recipes for potions from pepper in the ancient Indian medical texts Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita.

The Malabar Coast in southwestern India has always been a great place to grow herbs and spices. Thanks to this place, black pepper received the name “Malabar berry” among other peoples. The Indians poured hot water over the berries and dried them in the sun for several days so that they would dry out and turn black.

Source: latinfood.about.com/od/recipesbyregion/tp/P

The amazing taste and medicinal properties contributed to the spread of pepper to Egypt: black peppercorns were discovered in the tomb of Ramses II (1213 BC). They were used in the mummification of the pharaoh.

The first of the peoples of the Ancient East who recognized black pepper were the Persians. But not everyone could afford to eat it: pepper was not grown anywhere except India, and transportation in those days was very costly and long. Pepper was so expensive that it was called black gold and used as a currency.

In Greece, pepper was also an expensive commodity that only the very rich could afford. This mysterious spice came to Europe during the time of Alexander the Great, who reached India in the 3rd century BC. BC. The Romans learn about black pepper from the Greeks and establish trade relations with India through the inhabitants of South Arabia. After in 30 BC. The Roman Empire conquered Egypt, the monopoly of Arab merchants on the spice trade was eliminated, and pepper became cheaper and more accessible. Pepper took pride of place in Roman cuisine, with most third-century cookbook recipes often featuring it as an ingredient.
But pepper still has not lost its value: in the 5th century, the Visigoths, besieging Rome, demanded and received a ransom, part of which was pepper. After the fall of the Great Empire, the spice market was again taken over, first by the Persians and then by the Arabs.
In the Middle Ages, black pepper was quite common in Europe. It served as a spice, a medicine, a coin of exchange, a means of investing capital, and just a gift. They were paid dues, bribes, fines. In Germany, wealthy people were called “pepper bags”. In London, in 1180, the Guild of Whole Pepper Merchants was created, which later became the Guild of Spice Merchants, a century later renamed the Grocers Company, which still exists today.

Source: scarletselkie.blogspot.ru/2014_09_01_archiv

The pepper trade was a very dangerous and even criminal business. Merchants were robbed, killed, and the merchants themselves often resorted to fraud. In France, when buying black pepper, you could buy a fake – a mixture of juniper, coriander and black pepper powders, which even had its own name – “La Rochelle”. The authorities of Western Europe resorted to severe punishments – in Germany, for example, such a merchant was buried alive.

Black pepper, like other spices of the East, has had a huge impact on the course of world history. The Malabar coast, the islands of Sumatra, Ceylon and Java, where pepper was grown, were the scene of bloody wars. Persians, Arabs, Portuguese and Dutch fought for the “land of pepper”. In Dutch, the word peperduur is still used to denote something very expensive.

Black pepper influenced geography, causing the Great Geographical Discoveries. Captain Ferdinand Magellan invited the Spanish king Charles the First to find a new way for the Spaniards to pepper – and thanks to his voyages and losses, it became known that the earth was round. Round like a ball of pepper.
The discovery of America also happened due to the search for new routes to India.

Over time, pepper has been grown almost all over the world, but India, Indonesia and Brazil remain the largest producers of pepper. These countries produce over 40,000 tons of pepper per year. The first in the list of black pepper consumers are the USA, Russia, Germany, Japan and England. Pepper in our time is in any kitchen, and for those who like it spicier, a pepper pot is on every table in cafes and restaurants.

Pepper not only gives a piquant taste to meat and fish dishes, but also affects the digestive, circulatory, respiratory systems of a person, providing a tonic, expectorant, carminative, anthelmintic effect.

Studies show that pepper reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease: it thins the blood, destroys clots, and improves blood circulation. It also promotes digestion, stimulates the metabolic process, activating calorie burning. Peppers contain three times more vitamin C than oranges. It is also rich in calcium, iron, phosphorus, carotene and B vitamins. In addition, pepper is able to enhance the effect of other medicinal plants.

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Black pepper – the history of distribution

Millennium black pepper is known in its homeland, India. It has been used here as a spice and medicine for at least 4,000 years. Information about black pepper contains such ancient medical texts as Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita.

The Malabar Coast has always been a major source of the spice. These peas were traded (often referred to as “black gold”) and used as commodity money.

During excavations in Egypt black peppercorns were found in the tomb of Ramses II (1213 BC). They were used in the mummification of the pharaoh.

Trade routes of that time passed either by land or by sea: to Arabia – through the Persian Gulf, to Egypt – through the Red Sea. Pepper caravans from India paid high duties to the Turks for the transport of goods.

The first of the peoples of the Ancient East who recognized black pepper were the Persians.
Spice comes to Europe through Greece during the time of Alexander the Great, who reached India in the 3rd century BC. BC. From the Greeks, the Romans learn about black pepper, who establish trade relations with India through the inhabitants of South Arabia.

Black pepper in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome

In Greece pepper was quite an expensive commodity that only a very rich person could afford. A student of Aristotle, a philosopher and, as he is sometimes called, the “father of botany” Geophrastus (372-287 BC) distinguished two peppers: long and black. Long pepper (Piper longum) was more popular. It was more pungent and accessible to merchants as it grew in the northwestern part of India. In history, black pepper is closely related (and often confused) with long pepper.

In ancient Rome both peppers were simply called “piper”, without making any distinction between them. After in 30 BC. The Roman Empire conquered Egypt, the monopoly of Arab merchants on the spice trade, incl. black pepper, was eliminated. Roman ships from Alexandria reached Arabian and Indian ports. Spice in Rome became a hot commodity. The availability of spice has affected its price. Pliny the Elder in his Natural History wrote about the prices of different types of pepper in 77 AD: “Long pepper . .. fifteen denarii per pound, white – seven, and black – four” and was amazed that the Empire spends on the purchase of spices millions of sesterces annually. Pepper is firmly established in Roman cuisine – in most recipes of the cookbook of the third century AD, it appears as an ingredient. The value of the spice is evidenced by the fact that in the 5th century the Visigoths, having laid siege to Rome, demanded and received a ransom, part of which was pepper. After the fall of the Great Empire, the spice market was taken over first by the Persians and then by the Arabs.

A merchant and later a monk, Kosmas Indikopleoustes confirmed the fact that in the VI century AD. pepper was exported from India. He traveled in India and described the process of cultivation, collection and preparation of the spice by the inhabitants of the Malabar coast.

Almost all pepper found in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa is of Malabar origin.

Black pepper in the Middle Ages

Since the 16th century, due to the influence of the Portuguese, pepper has been cultivated on the islands of Java, Sumatra, Madagascar, Malaysia and the countries of Southeast Asia, but at that time this spice was used for internal needs or sold to China. Later, Marco Polo, in his memoirs about the island of Java, describing “pepper abundance”, mentions that the Chinese ships went out to sea, loaded to the brim with baskets of black pepper.

The market for spices expanded during the Crusades to Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine.
Until the end of the Middle Ages, most of the spice trade was under Muslim control. Only in the Mediterranean was trade monopolized by the merchants of Venice and Genoa. The spice trade was the main source of finance for the development of these city-states. From here, along one route, goods got through the Alps and along the Rhine to the North Sea and to England, and along the other – to the Baltic coast and further – to Novgorod. This continued until 1543, when the Ottoman Turks blocked the road to India, capturing Constantinople, the richest city in Europe during the Middle Ages.

In the Middle Ages black pepper was quite common in Europe. It served as a spice, a medicine, a coin of exchange, a means of investing capital, and just a gift. They were paid dues, bribes, fines. In Germany, wealthy people were called “pepper bags”. In London, in 1180, the Guild of Whole Pepper Merchants was created, which later became the Guild of Spice Merchants, a century later renamed the Grocers Company, which still exists today.

The desire to get rich led to fraud. In France, for example, when buying black pepper you could buy a fake – a mixture of powders of juniper, coriander and black pepper, which even had its own name – “La Rochelle”. The authorities of Western Europe resorted to severe punishments – in Germany, for example, such a merchant was buried alive.

Black pepper , like other spices of the East, has influenced the course of world history. The desire to enrich themselves led the Portuguese navigators at the end of the 15th century to the discovery of a sea route to India. But they were able to control the Malabar coast, the islands of Sumatra, Ceylon and Java only by defeating the Muslims.