Piper nigrum: The
peppercorn plant belongs to the piperaceae plant
family. It is a woody evergreen vine that grows up to 11 yards tall and has dark green, broad, somewhat oval shaped leaves. It uses
aerial roots to help it cling to, and climb trees. Peppercorn plants
have small white flowers that bloom in clusters of up to 150 florets and hang down
in a spike.
These flowers then ripen into the little berries that we know as peppercorns. It takes
several years for a young plant to flower and begin to produce fruit (the peppercorns). Since peppercorn
plants prefer a hot, humid, tropical environment, they are mostly produced in India,
although they are also produced in Indonesia, and Brazil. Black pepper often takes on the name of
the region where it was produced, or the port it was exported from. Malabar, Tellicherry, Singapore, Bangkok, Sarawak,
and Belém are common examples of this.
Three different kinds of peppercorns are produced by Piper nigrum: Black,
white, and green.
Buy
Black Peppercorns!
White:
These peppercorns have a
slightly hotter flavor and help keep light colored
dishes and sauces ascetically appealing. White peppercorns have a
unique aroma that is not only hot, but slightly musky. They are the preferred
pepper in much of the world. White pepper actually comes from the same
species of plant as black peppercorns, but has been allowed to fully ripen and
have had the black outer husk removed. See Piper nigrum above.
These peppercorns go especially
well in sauces, on light colored meats such as fish, and even in mashed
potatoes.
Buy
White Peppercorns!
Green:
These peppercorns have a clean,
sharp, but somewhat milder, fruity, or "green flavor". Green peppercorns are
actually immature black peppercorns that have been picked from the peppercorn
plant while still green and not fully ripe. They are then steamed and quickly
dehydrated. See Piper nigrum above.
These dehydrated green peppercorns
go
especially well with very fresh or fruity tasting foods. They
have a uniform light
green color with the characteristic aroma and pungent flavor of fresh green
pepper. Green
peppercorns have
important roles in French and Creole cooking.
Try them ground on salads, steamed
vegetables, in salsas, and sauces.
Buy
Green Peppercorns!
Pink:
These
rare and sometimes hard to find peppercorns come from France's Reunion
Island off the Madagascar coast in the Indian Ocean. They have a
fruity, slightly tart flavor, which goes especially well in fruit
sauces, vinaigrettes, and desserts. The flavor reminds me of a mixture
of a mild citrus zest and sweet berries. Pink peppercorns have a rich
pink color that adds a nice touch of color to foods.
These
are not true "peppercorns", but a similar tasting berry of
the Baies Rose Plant, or Peppertree (Schinus molle) that is a
native of South America. The Baies Rose plant is a small tree that has
numerous compound leaves with slender, symmetric, leaflets on each
side of the leaf.
And like its cousin the mango (Anacardiaceae family), this
plant can also cause allergies. Pink peppercorns
have a delicate, fragrant, sweet,
and spicy flavor. These rare little "berries" also add a dash of color to
your culinary creations! Pink peppercorns are an ingredient in some Chilean
wines and have numerous medical properties.
Buy
Pink Peppercorns Now!
Schinus terebinthifolius also
called
the Brazilian peppertree is a closely related species whose berries are also sold as pink peppercorns
in some areas. This pink pepper plant, like Sch. molle,
is also a small tree when fully
grown. The biggest difference between it and Sch. molle
are their compound leaves. The Leaves of Sch. terebinthifolius
have fewer leaflets and they are more stubby and rounded. This plant has an
appearance similar to that of holly and is sometimes used as a
substitute for it. Schinus
terebinthifolius grows
wildly in only a couple parts of the United States and its berries
are almost identical to that of its
close relative Schinus molle.
***Beware of the rare potential of rashes and allergies when handling or
consuming very large quantities of any variety of pink
peppercorns.
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Schinus
Species: molle, terebinthifolius, aroeira
Mixed:
Our
imperial rainbow blend contains generous amounts of all four colors of
peppercorns. The freshly ground mixture provides a complex pepper flavor and
aroma. These mixes also look stunning in a glass container or clear
peppermill.
A French
blend is a mixture of green and black peppercorns, while a
European blend contains a mixture of white and black.
Buy
Rainbow Peppercorns!
History: Peppercorns
have a long history of use as a condiment and a currency during
human civilization. Peppercorns were
first used as a spice more than 4000 years
ago and then later as a type of "currency" to facilitate
trade during the Middle Ages. It was
considered as valuable as gold since peppercorns have an extremely long
life. Pepper was the first spice used in Europe and it came to have
great social and economic value. Many explores and traders
(Including Christopher Columbus) risked there lives, and made some great discoveries, trying to
find new trade routs to the far east so they could acquire peppercorns
and other exotic spices. Even today, many poor families in Asia often
keep stashes of this prized spice as an investment for a rainy day. Peppercorns are
the most widely traded
spice in the world with Americans eating an average of over 1/4lb. per person per
year. See
More
Cooking pepper for more than two hours can
cause it to loose its flavor and aroma completely!
Pepper acquires an amplified flavor after
food it is in has been frozen.
Pepper should be added to cooked dishes
towards the end of cooking to prevent creating a bitter flavor, which can
occur when pepper is cooked for a long period of time.
Try Lightly toasting peppercorns in a dry
frying pan before
use to add a slightly nutty flavor.
Try adding pink pepper to dishes and
sauces to add color. Or keep your light colored dishes and sauces light with white peppercorns.
Wrap whole peppercorns in a "cheese cloth
bag" or tea ball for simmering in soups and stews.
Add to any savory dish, hot or cold.
Seafood to vegetarian fair, everything taste better with a little bit
of pepper!
Click here for peppercorn
recipes:
Peppercorn sauces, dressings, dip, and
more!
Pepper mills are used to grind a small
amount of fresh pepper, as you need it. Most have a knob, or handle, at the top
that with a few easy turns grinds a small amount of fresh pepper
from
fine to course. If you don't already have one, they are a worthwhile
investment. Whether its your average black pepper, or an exciting multicolor blend, pepper is
so much better when its freshly ground! YOU'LL NEVER GO WITHOUT IT
AGAIN..!!
Pepper mills are available from a wide
variety of sources. In all seriousness, the cheaper ones that are available at
discount stores such as Wal-Mart grind pepper adequately enough for most people
needs compared to the more elaborate, elegant, and expensive mills. On the other
hand, Zassenhaus of Germany is a renowned manufacture of superior grinding
mills, some parts of their pepper mills have a 10-year warranty! Mills
such as these will grind pepper uniformly at a variety of sizes, a necessity
for any chief's, or serious cook's kitchen.
Fresh peppercorns
delivered to your home, for less than what you would pay at the grocery
store!!!
Buy peppercorns on the net.
Its safe, easy, fast,
& you save money!
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here to order 
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Spice
of Life Gourmet Peppercorns
Northwoods, IL.
60185
630-293-4337
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Phone:
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