Though
salt is the most widely used spice, peppercorn is the most widely traded spice
in the world. And while it’s known as the king of spices, it’s actually a
fruit. Yes, a fruit. From the Piperaceae family, the black pepper
vine produces peppercorns, which are the fruit of the pepper plant
that have been dried for use.
There are
three types of peppercorns:
·
Green peppercorns are the unripe
version of the dried fruit.
·
White peppercorns are derived from
nearly ripe peppercorn fruits with the skin removed.
·
Black peppercorns, which have been
cooked and then dried, are the most common.
What makes
peppercorns so popular? Well, certainly the spice pairs well with an array of
food options, and it also exhibits an array of health benefits you may not have
known about. For instance, did you know that peppercorns may benefit those with
diabetes and even exhibits anticancer activity, much like black pepper
essential oil? It’s true, but that’s not all.
