Distribution: India, Vietnam, Malaysia (Sarawak) and Indonesia (Sumatra) are the main producers, closely followed by Brazil.
Appearance & growth: Pepper is a perennial vine with dark green leaves and spikes of white flowers. The vine takes seven to eight years to reach full maturity, and continues to bear fruit for 15-20 years. It is trained up posts or the trees grown for shade in coffee plantations.
Harvesting: The berries of piper nigrum are harvested over 2-3 months in the spring and summer. Peppercorns – dried berries – are graded by size: the larger the berry, the better the quality.
Aroma & taste: Pepper has a warm, woody smell that is fresh, pungent and agreeably aromatic. White pepper tastes hotter and less subtle than black; green pepper is not as hot and has a clean, fresh taste.