The black pepper consumption in the world comes second after salt.
The fruit of Piper nigrum, the harvested green berry, is dried in the sun until the outer skin hardens and blackens (the inner seed remains white). This black pepper is the most pungent of the three Piper nigrum peppercorns (green pepper, black and white pepper) and is also the most sought after as it is used not only as a spice but also to extract its oil content. The types are (based on their area of production): Tellicherry, Malabar, Sarawak, Lampong.
Interestingfact: the price of pepper was measured in gold prices centuries ago, even in ancient Rome, pepper merchants were called "pepper bags" who gained their wealth due to their high prices of pepper.
Store in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight.
