Miri, Pepper, Kali Mirch, Milagu, Kurumulagu

Spice no. 5

The round shriveled skin globular fruit of Piper nigrum. That is what we know in the form of black pepper. Pepper climbers are a common sight in Kerala and Karnataka. Native to Bharat. Find mention in history since 2000 BCE. The lost ancient port city of Muziris in Kerala was known for trade of kala sona.

Pepper is indispensable in our masalas especially the garam masala. It gives heat and Ayurved employs it exactly for it. In all ailments caused by cold the antidote is pepper. It is a spice used in Indian cooking and trading made it a fashionable seasoning world wide so much so the display of pepper on a well kept dinning table is a must today. Pepper was traded like gold in the past. The earliest application of pepper is preservation and so pepper was found as an essential ingredient for Mummification. Ramesses II nose was found stuffed with pepper. I would have wondered if that was death by pepper if not for the preservative properties.

Pepper vines a co-crop with coffee in Coorg

Pepper is classified into 3 types, black pepper which is ripe pepper that is dried either after boiling or without. The Green pepper is not cooked but directly dried and it is plucked at raw stage before it turns green. White pepper is the seed of pepper fruit. Since this is processed to discard the pericarp and retain only the seed it is milder in taste.

Fresh green pepper is pickled in brine. To be enjoyed as a condiment in a Thali meal. Black pepper received place of pride in Pepper Rasam, pepper idli, pepper chicken in Kerala and pepper laced sev and Khari puris. Pepper caught the fascination of the Romans and trade with India flourished. Pepper became currency and was even demanded as ransom by Alaric, king of the Visigoths. He included 3,000 pounds of pepper as part of the ransom he demanded from Rome when he besieged the city in fifth century.

Pepper has been consumed internally as well as an application on the skin to heal inflammations of skin, joints and even to reduce stomach aches. Internally for cold, cough, constipation, blood circulation and toothache etc.

Pepper being expensive is adulterated with papaya seeds as they look similar. Good pepper will give a bite well pressed under the teeth. So watch what you are buying.

Once upon a time Kerala solely was the largest exporter of pepper in the world however Vietnam captured the position by increasing production of white pepper which is much more in the demand in the world.