Seasoning with pepper

Pepper is just behind salt in popularity as a seasoning. Pepper is added most frequently to meats, soups, sauces and salads. Ground black or white pepper comes from the berries of a tropical climbing shrub. The color of pepper depends on the berry’s ripeness. Black pepper is from the dried, unripe berry, while white pepper is from the ripe berry from which the dark outer skin has been removed. Green peppercorns, a less common variety, are from underripe berries that are preserved in brine or freeze dried.

Peppercorns belong to an entirely different genus than the Capsicum family of chili peppers, which are classified as vegetables. Many varieties of Capsicum peppers are dried and used in chili powder, cayenne pepper and paprika.