Peppercorns are berries that grow on Piper nigrum, a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae. The fruit (yes, black pepper comes from a fruit!) is most often dried and used as a seasoning. The shaker of ground black pepper comes from the dried peppercorns of Piper nigrum. Black pepper is used as a spice in nearly all the world’s cuisines as a pungent, spicy, heating agent for food due to the presence of capsaicin and piperine. Black peppercorns can be used whole in stews, soups, stocks, pickles and more.
