Black Pepper

Black
Pepper

History

Pepper is the most widely used spice in the world and known as “King of the Spices”. Pepper crop is native to South Asia and historical records reveal that pepper is originated in South India. Peppercorns were a much-prized trade good often referred to also as “black gold” and used by as a form of commodity money. Until the Middle age, virtually all of the black pepper found in Europe, Middle East and North Africa traveled there from India’s Malabar region. It was some part of the preciousness of these spices that led to the European efforts to find a sea route to India and consequently to the European Colonial occupation of the country as well as European discovery and colonization of America/s. Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Brazil are the main pepper producers in the world. Sri Lanka grown black pepper has the highest piperine percentage the world.

Products and Uses

Pepper is largely produced as black pepper which is the dried whole fruit. It is produced by removing outer pericarp and pepper is also available in crushed and ground forms. A small amount of green and ripened pepper is pickled in brine and dehydrated green pepper and preserved red pepper also traded. Pepper oil and oleoresins are also extracted marketed as value-added products. Pepper is mainly used as a spice and flavoring agent in the food industry. It also has industrial uses in perfumery and pharmaceutical industries.

Varieties

Sri Lanka is a home to a number of wild pepper types. When considering the huge genetic variability of P. nigrum L. found in Sri Lanka and the presence of pepper wild relatives, it is believed that Sri Lanka is also a place of origin of pepper.

Some commercial black pepper varieties had also been introduced to Sri Lanka since the existence of commercial black pepper trade. High yielding pepper line called “Panniyur-1” from India and “Kuchin” from Malaysia was introduced in the 1970s but MB12 and GK 49 are high yielding and superior quality local selections which are popular among black pepper cultivators. Department of Export Agriculture has recently introduced three new hybrids – Dingi Rala, kohukumbure Rala and Bootawe Rala.

Need Help?

FAQ

Which country produces the best quality pepper?

For the quality standard there are various factors considered generally and most of these factors can be controlled externally. Like Moldy berry%, Moisture%, Lite berry%, density all of these factors, can be adjusted according to the requirement by an external force. For example, machines can distinguish moldy berries and good berries separately. We can dry the pepper and control the moisture level.

However, there is an important factor which we can not change according to the requirement which is Chemical Quality of the pepper. Piperine is the main chemical which make pepper pungent taste. In other words, Piperine makes what pepper is. Naturally, Sri Lankan black pepper has the highest Piperine content in the world. On average it has more than 6%. Generally, that is two times higher than other countries. This higher Piperine content makes the Sri Lankan Pepper to stay in the top of the Chemical Quality hierarchy.

Is ceylon pepper good?

However, there is an important factor which we can not change according to the requirement which is Chemical Quality of the pepper. Piperine is the main chemicals which make pepper pungent taste. In other words, Piperince makes what pepper is. Naturally, Sri Lankan black pepper has the highest Piperince content in the world. On average it has more than 6%. Generally, that is two times higher than other countries. This higher Piperine content makes the Sri Lankan Pepper to stay in the top of the Chemical Quality hierarchy.