Pepper/Black Pepper

Scientific name - Piper Nigrum

Family - Piperaceae

Pepper/black pepper is a popular cultivation in Kerala. It is main home medicine. Pepper plant flowers in rainy season (June - July) of Kerala.

Pepper is also called 'black gold'.

World's oldest and populous spice is pepper.

The name 'Pepper' was derived from the Sanskrit name 'Pippali'.

Black pepper is called 'King of Spices'.

Pepper was originated in Indian forests. 

It also cultivates in Malaysia, Thailand, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Brazil, Sree Lanka, China and Vietnam.

Majority of pepper production is in India.

It was used before BC 3000.

Pollination of pepper plant is through water.

It has both culinary and medicinal importance. 

Its fruit and roots are using parts.

Pepper seeds contain alkaloids and oil which can evaporate. Main alkaloids are piperine, piperidine and piperettine. The oil content has the chemicals terpene, 2-pinene and phellandrene.

Peperine alkaloids give spicy taste to black pepper.

Pepper has many benefits.

It used in Ayurveda for cough, breathe problems, indigestion, Asthma, cold, toothache, throat problems tonsillitis etc...

Pepper in a main masala ingredient which gives more taste for non veg recipes like chicken curry and egg masala curry. You can also make the veg recipes with pepper powder salads will be more spicy with it.

Pepper rasam is a good dish to withstand the tastelessness during fever.

Pepper can be used in 'uzhunnu vada' to make the snack tastier.