Black Pepper, Piper Nigrum

Black Pepper, Piper Nigrum, a True Source of Spice! The black pepper plant (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine that is native to South India and is widely cultivated for its fruit, which is known as peppercorns. These peppercorns are dried and used as a spice to flavor food. The plant itself belongs to the Piperaceae family, and its fruit is the source of the world's most commonly used spice. Key Features of the Black Pepper Plant. Black pepper is a perennial vine that grows up to 25 feet in height when supported by trees or trellises. It requires a support structure to climb and grow properly. The leaves are heart-shaped, glossy, and dark green. They are aromatic when crushed. It produces small, yellowish-green flowers in dense spikes, which eventually form the peppercorns. The flowers bloom on a spike, and it is these spikes that will turn into the pepper fruits. The fruit of the plant, when harvested before it is fully ripe and then dried, becomes the black peppercorn that we use in