Black pepper

Black peppercorns

Black pepper is a plant of the Pepper family, which has four spices at the same time. Depending on the moment of collection and processing, grains of black, white, green and red colors are obtained. Black pepper or real pepper is considered the leader of spices - 200,000 tons are sold every year.

Titles in other languages:

  • German Echter Pfeffer, Schwarzer Pfeffer
  • eng. Peper, Black pepper
  • fr. Poivre noir
Black Pepper - Spice Leader

Appearance

Pepper is a perennial evergreen vine that wraps around nearby plants for its own support. In cultivated form, the length does not exceed 5 m, in the wild it reaches 15 m.

  • It has large, leathery, elongated heart-shaped leaves.
  • Tiny flowers, white or yellow-gray, appear on inflorescences-earrings up to 10 cm long.
  • Stone fruits are round in diameter up to 5 mm, located on cobs up to 15 cm long and contain 25-30 grains. It bears fruit twice a year, for 20-30 years.

Where does it grow

The pepper comes from South India. It grows on the Malabar coast in the town of Kochi (now Kochi). Previously, this place was called Malikhabar, which means "land of pepper."

Today, the spice is grown in many tropical regions.

black pepper plantation

spice making method

Black pepper

Obtained by processing green berries. Initially, they are fermented, and then dried in ovens or in the sun. Just at this time, the shell of the grain darkens and wrinkles. Quality peas are those whose weight is heavier.It is sold in the form of peas, ground, crushed and in various mixtures.

Black peppercorns

White

Produced from ripe red berries. They are soaked for about a week, and then the pulp is removed. Then they are dried, as a result of which the grayish grains acquire a white-yellow or grayish tint. This type of spice is used in the same form as black.

White peppercorns

Green

Obtained from unripe berries. They are placed in brine or dried at high temperature. Freeze drying is also used.

Green peppercorns

Red

Red peppers, or brownish red as opposed to green, are obtained at the ripeness stage. At the same time, processing is similar to green. It is very spicy and is called "pondicherry" (Pondichery). There is a similar one, but more in demand, pink pepper (shinus). Don't confuse him with him.

Red peppercorns

The last two varieties of spices are used in the form of peas, or pickled.

In order for all the listed spices to retain their beneficial qualities and aroma for as long as possible, it is necessary to keep them in a tightly closed container at a temperature not exceeding 20 degrees and a humidity not exceeding 70%.

All types of peppercorns

Characteristics

  • Black peas have a strong fruity-spicy aroma and a pungent taste.
  • Green and pink peppers have a fresh and spicy smell and a pleasant pungency.
  • White grains have a rich sharpness, but the aroma is less pronounced.
Peppers in a pot of different types

Nutritional value and calories

Energy and nutritional value per 100 grams of product

Pepper Squirrels Fats Carbohydrates calories
Black 10.95gr. 3.26 gr. 38.31 gr. 255 cal.
White 10.4 gr. 2.12 gr. 42.41 gr. 255 cal.
Green 5 gr. 8 gr. 38 gr. 244 cal.

Chemical composition

Contains:

  • iron
  • calcium
  • phosphorus
  • carotene
  • B vitamins
  • ascorbic acid
Black Peppercorns rich in vitamins and minerals

As well as:

  • resin
  • starch
  • piperine
  • piperidine
  • fatty oil

Beneficial features

  • diaphoretic
  • Diuretic
  • Antibacterial
  • Immuno-boosting
Useful properties of black pepper

Contraindications

  • Taking certain medications
  • Diseases of the urinary tract
  • Pregnancy and lactation
  • stomach ulcer
  • Allergy
  • Anemia

Side effects may occur in the form of: headache, irritation, overexcitation. Therefore, it should be used strictly in dosage.

Oil

Black pepper EO has a wide range of applications. It is used in perfumery, cooking, folk medicine. It is obtained by steam distillation. The smell is spicy, woody, similar to seasoning. It is used as an immunostimulating, tonic, antibacterial agent.

Essential oil of black pepper

In medicine

  • respiratory diseases
  • myositis, neuritis, rheumatism
  • hypoxia, vasospasm, migraine, dizziness
  • PMS, algomenorrhea, climacteric disorders
  • sore muscles and joints, sports injuries
  • helps with depression, hysteria, fear
  • beneficial effect on the digestive system
  • relieves colic, diarrhea, heartburn
  • removes toxins from the body
  • stimulates blood circulation
Black pepper essential oil for respiratory problems

In cosmetology

  • Skin rejuvenation and regeneration
  • Hair strengthening
  • Dermatitis, acne, herpes
  • Infiltrates
  • Cellulite
Black pepper essential oil for enriching cosmetics

Application

  • For oral administration: 1 drop per 100 ml. honey, tea, jam
  • In aromatic lamps 3-5 drops
  • Baths sitz or foot baths 2 drops each
  • Massages and rubbing - 3 drops per 10 ml base
  • Enrichment of cosmetics - 1-2 drops per 5 ml of base

When buying an essential oil, make sure that it has the Latin name piper nigrum.

Do not apply when hypertension, gastrointestinal diseases. Strictly follow the dosage.

Healthy tea with black pepper essential oil

Application

In cooking

Types of black pepper depending on the time of collection and processing

  • Black pepper. It is widely used both in the food industry and in home cooking.Used for soups, gravies, sauces, salads, and marinades. Often used in canning and cooking second courses of meat, poultry, fish. Black pepper can also be added to meat or fish breading.
  • White pepper. Add to creamy sauces, fish dishes, to light meat.
  • Green pepper. Often found in culinary delights of Asian cuisine. The Europeans also became one of the favorite spices. Suitable for sauces, poultry, fish, seafood.

chocolate chip cookie

150 gr. beat softened butter with a mixer for about 3 minutes. Add one egg, a pinch of vanilla and beat again. Pour 350 gr. flour, half a glass of sugar and cocoa powder, 1 tsp. instant coffee and a pinch of salt, cinnamon, ground black pepper. Mix everything until smooth.

Wrap the resulting dough in cling film and put in the freezer for 1.5 hours. After the time has elapsed, pull it out, let it warm up, give the necessary shape no more than 1 cm thick. Roll in brown sugar, catch it on baking paper on a baking sheet. Put in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for 15 minutes.

Chocolate chip cookies with black pepper

salted salmon

Cut 1 kg of fish (you can take any red one) into portioned pieces, remove the bones and lay in one layer on cling film. Prepare seasoning from salt, sugar, 60 gr., 1 tsp. ground pepper and 2 tbsp. vodka. Grate the fillet with this mixture, add dill sprigs. Wrap with a film in 2-3 layers, put in a bowl and put under a press of a smaller diameter. Refrigerate for three days. Once a day, turn the fish under pressure. Salmon can be stored in the refrigerator for a week.

Salted salmon with black pepper

Soup puree

5 pieces. medium carrot, one small turnip, 1 onion and 2 garlic cloves cut into the same shape.Pour a liter of meat broth or water, cook until the vegetables are ready. 5 minutes before the end of cooking, add a pinch each of dried thyme, ground nutmeg, ground white pepper and salt. Grind the finished soup in a blender and let it brew a little. Puree soup can be served sprinkled with roasted sunflower seeds.

Vegetable soup with black pepper

fried dorado

Initially, we pass the shallots in butter. Add half a glass of water, bring to a boil and put 0.5 kg of fish fillet and a sprig of rosemary. Fry the dorado on both sides for 2 minutes. Add 25 ml brandy and evaporate over high heat. After, we remove the fish from the dishes, put the vegetables cut into strips in its place. You will need carrots and zucchini (each 2 pcs.). Let the vegetables in, and they also need to be removed. Now pour 100 gr. cream and 2 tbsp. water, boil a little and add 1 tbsp. green pepper (peas). Season the fish with salt and pepper and put back into the pan to soak up the sauce. Serve with vegetables.

Fried dorado with vegetables and black pepper

Watch the following video - you will learn a lot about black pepper.

In medicine

The medicinal properties of black pepper are quite diverse:

  • Improves digestion
  • Relieves diarrhea and bloating
  • Suitable for skin pigmentation
  • It is a good prevention against skin cancer
  • For respiratory diseases
  • With urolithiasis
  • Against insect bites
Black pepper for colds

With a cold

It is necessary to remove the bones from the raisins, and put a pea of ​​black pepper in their place. Eat 2 of these "sandwiches" in 15 minutes. before meals. 4 times a day.

From cough

Crushed black pepper is taken 3 times a day before meals. A pinch with water.

When losing weight

Black spice successfully fights obesity:

  • perfectly destroys fat cells
  • helps digestion of food
  • stimulates the production of enzymes
  • increases the rate of gastric peristalsis

Black pepper can be added to your favorite dishes or drinks. The recommended daily dose, no more than 4 gr.

White spice also promotes active burning of calories.

Black peppercorns for weight loss

Slimming drink

Mix 50 ml of tomato and bell pepper juice with 100 ml of cucumber juice and a pinch of freshly ground seasoning. It is taken no more than once a day.

In perfumery

Pepper is often used in perfumery. It gives flavors intrigue and courage. Notes of spices make the fragrant composition complete and harmonious. Most often, notes of black pepper are heard in men's perfumes, toilet water.

Black pepper is used in perfumery

Varieties

International markets provide a large number of varieties of black pepper.

Among them are more in demand:

  • Indian - a quality variety, with a strong aroma and medium pungency.
  • Indonesian - standard peas with a good spicy smell and very spicy taste.
  • Malaysian is not a very fragrant variety, for that it has a strong burning taste.
  • Vietnamese - larger, gray, brown, black. No special smell, but sharp-burning.
Varieties of black peppercorns

cultivation

Pepper is cultivated mainly in tropical climates, but you can also grow it at home in a pot of ordinary black peas that you get in the store.

Growing black pepper at home

Landing

For cultivation, you need to choose the largest grains, soak for a day in water and sow in the soil. Landing is best done in May. The soil should consist of sand, humus and soddy soil. Pots should be kept at a temperature of 25-30 degrees, these are optimal conditions for good growth. Homemade pepper grows up to 2 meters and can bear fruit in the second year.

Care

When the first shoots appear, the soil is fertilized with settled bird droppings. Then you can transplant into a larger container.Be sure to monitor the temperature, it should not fall below +10 degrees, otherwise the young pepper may die. Lighting should be moderate, without direct sunlight. It should be watered as the earth dries out, a little more often in summer.

Black pepper grown from chickpeas

Interesting Facts

  • Black pepper in translation from the ancient Indian language means "maric", which means the Sun.
  • In the Middle Ages, pepper was considered a very expensive spice, wars even broke out because of it.
  • In ancient times, a thousand black spices were used to weigh goods. The weight of the spice in this amount is exactly 460 gr.
Black pepper has been known and used since ancient times.
1 comment

When you grind pepper in a mortar yourself, and do not buy ground, the taste of the dish becomes somehow special.

The information is provided for reference purposes. Do not self-medicate. For health issues, always consult a specialist.

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