Pepper

Pepper is a climbing vine (Piper nigrum) native to the Kerala region that thrives in tropical climates. Black pepper and white pepper are the dried unripe fruit (berries) of the pepper vine. For black pepper the berries are picked before they are ripe, then left out in the sun to ferment for several days, which turns them black. For white pepper, the berries are soaked after being picked ripe and then the whitish seed is removed and dried. White pepper has less aroma and flavor than black pepper. Kerala, in southern India, is a major grower and exporter of pepper. For centuries, black pepper was a very expensive spice in northern Europe; now we take it for granted as a flavoring and a way of adding heat to a dish.