black pepper

Spicy spice

« It is surprising that the use of pepper has become so fashionable, seeing that in the other substances we use it is the sweetness or their appearance that has attracted our attention. Pepper has nothing in itself that can beg for a recommendation like other fruits. , having a certain spiciness as the only quality. "

In this quote, which derives from Pliny the Elder, there is a truth: the author was able to express in a few words the importance embodied by pepper, a spice of Indian origin. But that's not all: in the Middle Ages pepper was also used as a currency, just think that it was estimated as “black gold” (a definition which, nowadays, is certainly more suited to the less edible but economically more palatable oil). Only later, black pepper began to enter Ayurvedic medicine, thanks to its properties.
The etymology of the term refers to the ancient Sanskrit "pappali", to transform itself into "pipor" in archaic English and into "piper" in Latin; in botany it is known as Piper nigrum, belonging to the Piperaceae family.

Drying

Black pepper indicates the semi-ripe fruit of the Piper nigrum; if the black pepper undergoes a decortication, it is called white pepper. Green pepper also comes from the same plant, and differs from white and black pepper due to the different ripening stage of the drupe (fruit).
Black pepper is the hottest in its category, thanks to the consistent amount of piperine contained.
Before starting the drying process, the fruits are quickly scalded in hot water: during drying, a phase in which the peppercorns are arranged in special dryers for a few days, the pulp of the fruit breaks, consequently the grain is it blackens faster, until it assumes the typical color nigra.
By mixing black pepper with white pepper, which is characterized by a less spicy flavor with a particular sweet and sour note, gray pepper is obtained.

Spiciness

In ancient times, the properties of black pepper were exploited as “flavor modulators”: pepper was added to improve the taste of some alcoholic beverages that have gone bad, such as wine and beer; black pepper was then mixed with food and drinks for its antibacterial properties. In this regard, it is incorrect to say that pepper can boast therapeutic properties if added to foods: piperine, which gives pepper its spiciness, boasts antibacterial properties, but the quantity necessary for the therapeutic effect should be much higher than that. normally added to enrich foods.

Therapeutic properties

It is good to remember that pepper, being an oriental spice, was used both for culinary purposes and for curative purposes: to give an example, as early as the fifth century, black pepper was described in Syrian book of medicine to relieve certain ailments such as diarrhea, earache, heart disease, hernias, insect bites, liver disorders, insomnia, oral abscesses, indigestion and stomach pain. Indeed, in some cases it was recommended to apply black pepper directly in the eyes to relieve visual disturbance: obviously, these properties attributed to pepper have no medical basis and many meanings are wrong. In fact, the irritating power of pepper is known: application to the eye would therefore cause serious eye problems. The custom of taking pepper for stomach ailments was also wrong: the irritation caused by piperine tends to further compromise the gastric situation, stimulating the secretion of acidic juices.

As mentioned, piperine is the substance that gives the drug the spiciness; it should not be confused with the capsaicin of chillies, which is a hundred times hotter.

Black pepper essential oil

The essential oil of black pepper has a burning and spicy nature; in the pulp there are other important active ingredients, such as terpenes, linalool, caryophyllene, limonene and pinene, which contribute to the strong character of black pepper. These substances are present only in very small percentages in white pepper, being devoid of pulp.
It is therefore understandable how the saying “a person all pepper” refers to a lively and dynamic temperament; on the other hand, a person “neither salt nor pepper” hides a meaningless personality.

Other Foods - Spices Garlic Dill Cinnamon Cren Curry Daikon Broth Cube Tarragon Monosodium Glutamate Mace Nutmeg Oregano Paprika Black Pepper Green Pepper Pepper Cayenne Pepper Chilli Pepper Parsley Horseradish Rosemary Dietary Salt Whole Salt Iodized Salt Hyposodic Salt Salt Pink Himalayan Salt Mustard Tabasco Vanilla Wasabi Ginger OTHER ITEMS SPICES Categories Food Alcoholics Meat Cereals and derivatives Sweeteners Sweets Offal Fruit Dried fruit Milk and derivatives Legumes Oils and fats Fish and fishery products Salami Spices Vegetables Health recipes Appetizers Bread, Pizza and Brioche First courses Second courses Vegetables and Salads Sweets and Desserts Ice creams and sorbets Syrups, liqueurs and grappas Basic Preparations ---- In the Kitchen with Leftovers Carnival Recipes Christmas Recipes Dietary Recipes Light Recipes Woman's Day, Mother's Day, Dad's Day Functional Recipes International Recipes Easter Recipes Recipes for Celiacs Recipes for Diabetics Recipes for the Holidays Recipes for Valentine's Day Vegetarian Recipes Protein Recipes Regional Recipes Vegan Recipes