Spices Black Pepper

Black pepper is native to the Malabar Coast of India and is one of the earliest spices known. Widely used as a spice around the world, pepper also has a limited usage in medicine as a carminative (to relieve flatulence) and as a stimulant of gastric secretions. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is an annual vine that belongs to family Piperaceae. Its dry fruits are used as a spice worldwide. Black pepper possesses antioxidant, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory property . The main active ingredient in black peppercorns is piperine, which is the source of black pepper's characteristic heat. Aside from heat, black pepper carries a complex flavor profile of piney, citrusy notes. By adding more black pepper to a dish, eventually the heat from the piperine becomes the main flavor.