Your Peppercorn Guide
Pepper is a spice we use so frequently yet think so little about. A foray into the world of peppercorns will leave your mouth tingling and your worldview broadened, telling stories from Nepal, Cambodia, and Madagascar. To try them all, take a peek at our Peppercorn Set.
Tellicherry Peppercorns
Considered the finest black peppercorns in the world, Tellicherry are larger and left to ripen longer than black peppercorns to fully develop their sweetness to mellow their heat. A beautiful, versatile variety every chef & home cook should have on hand, use for everyday.
Malabar Peppercorns
The Malabar Coast of Kerala, India is home to some of the finest pepper farms in the world. Malabar pepper is well balanced with citrus aromas and a medium-hot bite. Your go-to for steaks, stocks, and stews.
Madagascar Wild Peppercorns
A fragrant peppercorn with hints of peppermint and chocolate. Use their long, tail-like stems to press into a bird or roast, or brew them like tea for digestive benefits.
Timut Peppercorns
Timut hails from Nepal and provides a szechuan-esque cooling, tingly bite with notes of grapefruit. Due to its citrus flavor, Timut pairs nicely with fish and desserts. Sprinkle a pinch over fruit salad or coffee & vanilla flavored ice creams for a kick.
Kampot Black Peppercorns
With black and red varieties, Kampot peppers are the first geographically protected crop in Cambodia. The red is rarer, more aromatic, and less spicy than it’s black counterpart. Both have a characteristic sweetness with notes of jasmine that pair well with crab and other seafood.
Pink Peppercorns
Pink Peppercorns are not true peppercorns but the dried fruit of the tree Schinus molle. With slight notes of rosehip they pair deliciously with dairy, coffee, cardamom, fish, soups, and cooked vegetables. Alternatively, marry them with goat cheese or mozzarella salads.
Passion Berries
One of the main ingredients in Berbere Spice, Passion Berries carry a strong passion fruit flavor.Turn them into a sugar or a salt and use it to finish a scallop crudo or avocado salad. Or, steep them like a tea, with hibiscus. Even though they appear green, they’ll turn your water a brilliant red color.
FAQs
For best results, crack open a few whole peppercorns, take a nice deep inhale, being careful not to actually snort the pepper, and then chew on them for a bit. There is enough evidence to support that this may help you ease into a relaxed high.
What's the difference between black peppercorns and tellicherry peppercorns? ›
Considered the finest black peppercorns in the world, Tellicherry are larger and left to ripen longer than black peppercorns to fully develop their sweetness to mellow their heat. A beautiful, versatile variety every chef & home cook should have on hand, use for everyday.
What is the difference between peppercorn and black peppercorn? ›
Black peppercorns are simply green peppercorns that have been blanched and then dried, which causes the outer layer of the fruit to darken to its characteristic brown-black color. “When we think of the flavor of pepper, it is black peppercorns that we think about,” Gregorio said.
Which is hotter, green or black peppercorns? ›
The different peppercorn varieties absolutely taste different! Black peppercorns, which are the most common, are picked before the berry is just ripe. They therefore have the strongest flavour of the peppercorn varieties – slightly hot with a tiny bit of sweetness.
Do peppercorns reduce anxiety? ›
Pepper contains a terpene called beta-caryophyllene, which has both anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory properties. Interestingly, beta-caryophyllene also interacts with the same receptors in the brain as cannabinoids, potentially modulating the effects of THC.
Does lemon boost your high? ›
Like peppercorn, lemons also contain compounds, such as limonene, that have a calming effect. Eating some lemon or squeezing some lemon juice into your water will counteract some of the psychoactive effects of THC and help you come down.
What brand peppercorns do chefs use? ›
Our chefs rate McCormick Culinary Whole Black Pepper a must-have pantry item for the flavor-obsessed chef.
Which is better, Malabar or Tellicherry peppercorns? ›
The two main varieties of pepper are Malabar and Tellicherry grow on India's Malabar coast. Both varieties come from the exact same plant (piper nigrum), however each has a different characteristics that make them different. Tellicherry is considered higher quality than Malabar and has larger berries.
Why is black peppercorn so expensive? ›
The plant takes 3–5 years to come to fruit. All this adds to the cost. 100 pounds of fresh pepper berries yield only around 35 pounds of dry black pepper after processing and drying. Again, this increases the cost of the finished product that reaches your kitchen.
Which country has the best black pepper? ›
The history of black pepper
Even though Vietnam is the current king of peppercorn, the plant species are native to India's Malabar Coast. Britannica says that the spice was widely cultivated and used both medicinally and as a treasured condiment.
Store whole peppercorns in a sealed container in a cool, dry place up to one year. Some sources claim that properly stored, sealed peppercorns can still be viable for up to three years. Ground pepper begins to lose flavor after about four months, so if you do not use a lot of pepper, avoid those huge cans.
What spice is similar to black peppercorn? ›
The most similar substitute for black peppercorns would be ground black pepper. To use ground black pepper in place of peppercorns, simply use ¼ teaspoon ground pepper for every teaspoon, or about 8 whole peppercorns, called for in the recipe.
Are capers the same as green peppercorns? ›
They look like green peppercorns. A. Capers are the buds of a shrub native to the Mediterranean region, according to “Cook's Ingredients,” by Philip Dowell and Adrian Bailey. Most capers sold are pickled in brine, but they occasionally come packed in salt.
What is the best peppercorn in the world? ›
Kampot peppercorns are considered the finest pepper in the world. They're named after their region of production, just like Vidalia onions, Bourbon whiskey, and Roquefort cheese.
Can I use pink peppercorns instead of black? ›
Their flavor is similar to that of a black peppercorn, but it's not as strong and the flavor is much brighter and fruitier. They are slightly sweet and mild in spiciness, making them a great addition to butter-based sauces, salads, seafoods, dressings, and poultry dishes.
What does black pepper do for a high? ›
Key Takeaways. Some social media users say chewing whole black peppercorns might be able to ease cannabis-induced anxiety. Like cannabis, black pepper contains a type of aromatic compound called terpenes, which could help relieve stress and anxiety.
How do you use black pepper when high? ›
Chew Black Peppercorns
Believe it or not, chewing on black peppercorns can also help alleviate the effects of being too high. Black pepper contains beta-caryophyllene, a terpene that may lessen the effects of too much THC.
What is the pepper trick? ›
Steps to Performing the Trick
Shake some pepper onto the water's surface. Dip your finger into the pepper and water (Nothing much will happen). However, if you put a drop of dishwashing liquid on your finger and then dip it into the pepper and water the pepper will rush to the outer edges of the dish.
What is the pepper ghost method? ›
In a Pepper's Ghost Illusion, when a real or recorded image is reflected in a transparent screen at a 45o angle, viewers see a reflected virtual image that seems to have depth and appear out of nowhere .
