The Ultimate Guide To Pepper

Pepper, often dubbed "the master spice," holds a special place in kitchens worldwide. Its rich history, diverse varieties, and culinary versatility make it a staple in both everyday cooking and gourmet dishes.

A Spice with a Storied Past

Pepper's journey from ancient times to modern kitchens is remarkable. In 1180, London's Guild of Pepperers was among the most influential guilds, highlighting pepper's economic significance. It was so valuable that it was used as currency for taxes, rent, dowries, and even ransom. The quest for pepper spurred European explorers to seek sea routes to India, and eventually the procurement of pepper and other spices led to the discovery of the Americas. Today, pepper is still one of the most traded spices in the world, its culinary popularity rivaled only by salt.

Understanding Pepper Varieties

All true peppercorns come from the Piper nigrum plant, native to Southwest India, and cultivated today in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and China. The color and flavor of pepper depend on the ripeness of the berry at harvest and the processing method.

Black Pepper: Harvested before ripening and sun-dried, black pepper has a robust, pungent flavor and is the most commonly used variety.
White Pepper: Fully ripe berries are husked and sun-dried, resulting in a milder flavor, often used in light-colored dishes.
Green Pepper: Picked before ripening and preserved before drying, green peppercorns offer a fresh, herbaceous taste.
Pink Pepper: Not a true peppercorn, these come from the South American Schinus terebinthifolius plant and provide a sweet, piquant, peppery flavor.
Sichuan Pepper: From the Zanthoxylum bungeanum shrub, this pepper offers a unique, pungent flavor that starts warm and lemon-like with woodsy overtones, and finishes with a surprising numbing sensation on the tongue.
Peppercorn Blends: The combining of two or mre types of while peppercorns, blends offer a colorful burst of complex flavor.

Exploring Pepper Grinds

The grind of pepper affects its flavor release and culinary application:

Whole Peppercorns: Offer the freshest aroma and taste; ideal for grinding as needed and the most popular choice for chefs to enhance any dish. Whole peppercorns may be used without grinding in pickling, marinades, stocks, blends, pot roasts and soups.
Cracked Pepper: Consists of larger pieces of black pepper berries and provides bursts of flavor, perfect for salads, salsa, pastas and meats.
Coarse Grind: Retains more volatile aroma and flavor, suitable for table use to add a zing to salads, meats, poultry, fish, vegetables and cottage cheese.
Medium, Fine, and Extra Fine Grinds: Commonly used in shakers and for baking, blending quickly and smoothly into dishes.

Pepper Beyond Piper Nigrum

Not all peppers come from the Piper nigrum plant:

Cubeb Pepper: From the pepper cubeba plant, cubeb pepper has a dry, somewhat bitter taste with a woody, pine-like overtone.

Long Pepper: Also from Indonesia, long pepper is more pungent than black pepper, with a hint of sweetness.

Cooking with Pepper

Pepper enhances a wide range of dishes:

Black Pepper: Adds zing to steaks, soups, potatoes, pastas, and sauces.
White Pepper: Preferred by European cooks to subtly flavor white sauces, also pairs well light-colored dishes like fish, chicken and mashed potatoes.
Green Peppercorns: Ideal for meat sauces, steaks, pork chops, duck, or salad dressings.
Pink Peppercorns: Considered a gourmet ingredient in French cuisine where they are used for their sweet, piquant flavor and decorative appeal. Great to add mild peppery taste and exotic aroma to savory dishes.
Sichuan Pepper: Essential in Chinese cuisine, it's complex flavor can be used to intensify the flavor of fish, poultry, cheese and vegetables.

Pepper's journey from ancient trade routes to modern kitchens is a testament to its enduring appeal. By exploring different varieties and grinds, you can elevate your cooking and experience the full spectrum of flavors this remarkable spice offers.

Frontier Co-op® Pepper Offerings

Frontier Co-op® provides a diverse selection of pepper products, allowing you to explore the rich world of pepper and enhance all your culinary creations: