Pepe

Of all the exotic spices, pepper is the one that has been most enthusiastically received in Italy. It is believed that Alexander the Great brought it back from India, where it is still grown today. The corns are the fruit of a vine-like plant that climbs up to a height of 10 metres (30 feet), although it is usually cut back to 4 metres (12 feet) so that it is easier to pick and so that it produces compact clusters, each bearing 70-80 peppercorns. India, Pakistan and Indonesia are all producers of pepper.