Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit (the peppercorn), which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about 0.20 inches in diameter (fresh and fully mature), dark red, and contains a stone which encloses a single pepper seed. Peppercorns and the ground pepper derived from them may be described simply as pepper, or more precisely as black pepper (cooked and dried unripe fruit), green pepper (dried unripe fruit), or white pepper (ripe fruit seeds).
Black pepper is native to the Malabar Coast of India, and the Malabar pepper is extensively cultivated there and in other tropical regions.
Ground, dried, and cooked peppercorns have been used since antiquity, both for flavor and as a traditional medicine. Black pepper is the world's most traded spice, and is one of the most common spices added to cuisines around the world. Its spiciness is due to the chemical compound piperine, which is a different kind of spicy from the capsaicin characteristic of chili peppers. It is ubiquitous in the Western world as a seasoning, and is often paired with salt and available on dining tables in shakers or mills.
Black pepper
Black pepper is produced from the still-green, unripe drupe of the pepper plant. The drupes are cooked briefly in hot water, both to clean them and to prepare them for drying. The heat ruptures cell walls in the pepper, speeding the work of browning enzymes during drying. The drupes dry in the sun or by machine for several days, during which the pepper skin around the seed shrinks and darkens into a thin, wrinkled black layer. Once dry, the spice is called black peppercorn. On some estates, the berries are separated from the stem by hand and then sun-dried without boiling.
After the peppercorns are dried, pepper spirit and oil can be extracted from the berries by crushing them. Pepper spirit is used in many medicinal and beauty products. Pepper oil is also used as an ayurvedic massage oil and in certain beauty and herbal treatments.
The pepper plant is a perennial woody vine growing up to 13 ft in height on supporting trees, poles, or trellises. It is a spreading vine, rooting readily where trailing stems touch the ground. The leaves are alternate, entire, 2.0 to 3.9 inches long and 1.2 to 2.4 inches across. The flowers are small, produced on pendulous spikes 1.6 to 3.1 inches long at the leaf nodes, the spikes lengthening up to 2.8 to 5.9 inches as the fruit matures.
Production and trade
| Country | Production (tonnes) |
|---|---|
| Vietnam |
270,192
|
| Brazil |
114,749
|
| Indonesia |
89,041
|
| India |
66,000
|
| Sri Lanka |
43,557
|
| China |
33,348
|
| Malaysia |
30,804
|
| World |
747,644
|
|
Source: FAOSTAT of the United Nations
|
|
In 2020, Vietnam was the world's largest producer and exporter of black peppercorns, producing 270,192 tonnes or 36% of the world total (table).
Other major producers were Brazil, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, China, and Malaysia. Global pepper production varies annually according to crop management, disease, and weather. Peppercorns are among the most widely traded spice in the world, accounting for 20% of all spice imports.
History
Black pepper is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been known to Indian cooking since at least 2000 BCE. J. Innes Miller notes that while pepper was grown in southern Thailand and in Malaysia, its most important source was India, particularly the Malabar Coast, in what is now the state of Kerala. The lost ancient port city of Muziris in Kerala, famous for exporting black pepper and various other spices, gets mentioned in a number of classical historical sources for its trade with Roman Empire, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Levant, and Yemen. Peppercorns were a much-prized trade good, often referred to as "black gold" and used as a form of commodity money. The legacy of this trade remains in some Western legal systems that recognize the term "peppercorn rent" as a token payment for something that is, essentially, a gift.
The ancient history of black pepper is often interlinked with (and confused with) that of long pepper, the dried fruit of closely related Piper longum. The Romans knew of both and often referred to either as just piper. In fact, the popularity of long pepper did not entirely decline until the discovery of the New World and of chili peppers. Chili peppers—some of which, when dried, are similar in shape and taste to long pepper—were easier to grow in a variety of locations more convenient to Europe. Before the 16th century, pepper was being grown in Java, Sunda, Sumatra, Madagascar, Malaysia, and everywhere in Southeast Asia. These areas traded mainly with China, or used the pepper locally. Ports in the Malabar area also served as a stop-off point for much of the trade in other spices from farther east in the Indian Ocean.
This is the perfect coleslaw recipe to bring to a family shindig or backyard bash, 'cause it goes along with everything! Summer's Best Slaw features the delicious combo of a sweet and savory dressing and crunchy, flavorful summer peppers.
- 1 (16-ounce) package shredded coleslaw mix
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed, finely diced
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- In a large bowl, combine coleslaw mix, celery, bell peppers, and jalapeno pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together Italian dressing and brown sugar until sugar is dissolved; pour over coleslaw mixture, tossing to coat completely.
1919 – Gower Champion, American dancer and choreographer (d. 1980)
We won’t limit you or time you on this affectionate holiday. National Kissing Day on June 22nd encourages us to pucker up for a smooch. Whether the kiss comes from your significant other, your children or pets, share the love!
The kiss has been a part of our culture for thousands of years. The reasons we kiss vary, too. While affection and attraction may be the most common reason for kissing, the kiss has also been used as a greeting. In some cultures, kissing a cheek may date back to Christian rituals. In Ireland, the custom of kissing the Blarney Stone has existed for centuries and is said to bestow the kisser with the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness. Another medieval tradition that hopefully has been extinguished is the practice of kissing the feet or royalty or those in power. A similar act of kissing includes kissing the ring of someone to show fealty.
Which leads to hand-kissing. While this gesture suggests loyalty to someone, it has a friendlier connotation than that of kissing feet. For some, it’s a sign of respect and affection.
But National Kissing Day offers more than a history lesson. It encourages us to reconnect and draw closer to our loved ones. Whether it’s a peck on the cheek or a passionate kiss, when we receive one from someone we love, kissing brings joy. Kissing triggers the release of endorphins which in turn tells our brain it’s happy. When we kiss, our anxiety is reduced and our blood pressure lowers, too. Maybe those boo-boo kisses from mom carry some real power.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL KISSING DAY
Celebrate the power of a kiss. Pull your partner into a passionate kiss or practice your kissing style with them. You can also:
- Watch movies with great kissing. We suggest Cinema Paradiso directed by Giuseppe Tornatore.
- Time yourself. Can you beat the longest kissing record in the world? Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranat currently hold the record at 58 hours, 35 minutes, and 58 seconds. Sure hope they used long-lasting breath mint!
- Share a story about your first kiss.
- Not all kisses go well. Share stories of kisses gone wrong. That includes those accidental kisses.
- What’s your favorite on-screen kiss? Is it from the Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Body Guard, or Crazy, Stupid Love?
NATIONAL KISSING DAY HISTORY
While researching the history of National Kissing Day, we did not find a source for June 22nd. However, several events took place around that date starting in 2002. An episode of the United Kingdom soap opera Hollyoak aired on June 25, 2002. The episode featured characters Ellie and Ben who set a record for the longest film kiss. Actors Sarah Baxendale and Marcus Patrick kissed for three minutes and fifteen seconds in a kissing contest hosted for National Kissing Day. While they may have been celebrating the holiday in England that takes place on July 6, it’s still an impressive feat. However, other records have been set since, including some long-lasting kisses on episodes of The Bachelor.
