Piper nigrum

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, known as a peppercorn, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about 5 mm (0.20 in) 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 flavour 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.

Characteristics

Plant Type

Vine

Life Cycle

Perennial

Genus

Piper

Family

Piperaceae

Hardiness Zone

10-12

Mature Height

3.05 m to 4.57 m

Mature Spread

91 cm

Leaf Color

Green

Leaf Type

Evergreen

Flower Color

White

Flower Size

3.05 cm to 10.16 cm

Bloom Time

All year round

Planting Time

Spring

Harvest Time

All year round

Native Area

India

Tags (9)

Common Names (14)