1. Pepper is native to South India.
2. Pepper is the most traded
spice in the world. Vietnam is the world’s largest producer and exporter of
pepper, producing 34% of the world’s output. India is the third largest producer and exporter.
3. The spiciness of black
pepper is due to the presence of the chemical ‘piperine’.
4. Black pepper is produced
from the still-green, unripe drupes of the pepper plant. White pepper consists
of the seed of the pepper plant alone. Orange pepper or red pepper usually
consists of ripe red pepper drupes preserved in brine and vinegar.
5. At one time, pepper was so
valuable that it was used as currency or collateral. When Alaric the Visigoth besieged
Rome in the 5th century he demanded a ransom that included 3,000
pounds of pepper. The rise of Venice and Genoa is attributed to their monopoly
of the spice trade. This is also what lead the Portuguese to discover a
sea route to India.
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