Black pepper is a flowering vine in the Piperaceae family that is grown for its peppercorn-shaped fruit, which is used as a spice and condiment and is typically dried. The fruit is a drupe that has a stone within that carries a single pepper seed. It is dark red, about 5 mm in diameter.

Harvesting: When the corns are green (a bit yellow), the pepper stems are picked because the inside of the corns is ripe and hard enough to produce the pepper’s best flavour and aroma. Peppercorns will be cut from their stems and dried until they are black and have the right moisture content.

Taste: Pepper has a potently hot, spicy flavour. It is available in ground and whole forms.

Harvesting time: Usually harvesting starts in November and continues up to March.