The Pepper Plant

• Pepper -- Piper nigrum -- grows wild on the vine in equatorial forests of India and Asia, but is cultivated in other tropical countries. The plant produces small white flowers that grow in long clusters and produce berries that are green, turn orange and eventually red when ripe. Unripe berries are harvested and allowed to dry in the sun where they wrinkle and turn black to become peppercorn.

History

• Pepper is one of the most popular spices in the world. In Roman times it was a substitute for money, and used for ransoms, tributes and rent -- the term "peppercorn rent" can still be heard in Europe. The value of pepper was said to be the reason for dangerous voyages of Portuguese mariners.

An Important Ingredient

• Whole peppercorns are available in any supermarket and used whole in marinades, soup stock or stews. Ground pepper is used for dishes with a short cooking times, as long-term cooking can cause bitterness. Pepper tastes fresher if ground using a pepper mill just before adding to a dish. Coarse-ground pepper, which can be store bought or ground by using a mortar and pestle, is used on steaks or other dishes when the pepper should crunch in the mouth.

Other Interesting Uses

• Pepper can be ground into sweet dishes such as fruitcakes, tarts and pies. Pepper is also considered a stimulant and increases gastric juices, helping to digest rich foods and prevent constipation. Historically, a medicine called diatrion piperion was made by mixing white and black pepper, thyme, ginger and aniseed boiled in hyssop syrup, and taken to aid in digestion and improve memory.