The Complete Guide to Peppercorns and the Unique Mouth-Watering Flavors
Jun 21st 2022 by Viva Doria Admin
Peppercorns come in an overwhelming variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors. That’s why it can be hard to choose the right one at the grocery store or when ordering your favorite dishes from a menu, but with this handy guide, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying all that peppercorns have to offer! Take a look at our extensive infographic and learn everything there is to know about peppercorns.
What are peppercorns?
Peppercorns are believed to have been in use since at least 2000 B.C.making them one of the earliest flavor agents. Though the spice we usually think of when we think of pepper is black pepper, white, green, pink, and red peppercorns have also been used for a wide variety of cuisines around the world. When added to meats, chicken dishes, fish dishes, soups, and salads, peppercorns offer an element of unique flavor that is hard to replicate elsewhere.
Different Types of Pepper
Though it may seem obvious, people who don’t work with pepper regularly often don’t realize that there are actually several different types of pepper. There is black pepper, white pepper, pink peppercorn, green peppercorn, Szechuan (or spicy) chili pepper, and more. These peppers all come from various plants in the same family Piperaceae. And despite their differences in color and taste—black being very bold whereas pink can be extremely mild they share a lot in common with each other nutritionally. Read on for more about all your favorite peppery relatives!
Black, White, Green, Red – Which Pepper Should I Use?
All peppercorns can be broken down into two main categories: hot and sweet. Within the plant family Piperaceae, which originates from Asia, Africa, and India, are five varieties of pepper including black pepper, white pepper, green peppercorn, red peppercorn, and pink peppercorn. White pepper is made by taking all of the skin off the black pepper berries before they are picked. Green peppercorns are just unripe berries pickled and preserved; they're not actually related to other kinds of peppers. Not to be confused with regular black peppercorns, pink peppercorns are tangy and taste delicious with poultry, fish, and pork dishes. Use red peppercorns for dishes like steak or lamb. Use black peppercorns for meat-based sauces.
How are they used?
Peppercorns are harvested from a type of pepper plant. There are many varieties but two main species: Black pepper, which is actually a fruit that grows on trees, and White pepper which can be ground directly from its seeds. As it's name suggests, white pepper is not actually black at all but dried while still green. This gives it a mild flavor and softer bite than black peppers. The two types come from different plants which grow in different climates and are harvested differently by experts who understand how best to preserve each kind's unique flavor profile for maximum efficiency after harvesting. They're both used in cuisines around the world and play an important role in taste creation. Without them, we'd lose out on some of our favorite dishes like steak au poivre or chicken piccata.
Health Benefits Of Pepper
Known as an anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, antioxidant, and antiseptic, black pepper has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries as a great digestive aid. White pepper is beneficial in combating bad bacteria and has shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects, blood-circulation enhancing capabilities, and a protective effect against hardening of the arteries. Several studies have found that regularly consuming black pepper lowers heart disease risk factors such as total cholesterol, LDL levels (bad cholesterol), triglycerides, and blood pressure. It also aids in the prevention of cancer cells by reducing the proliferation of free radicals.
Your tongue will find thousands of uses for pepper. Cooks and chefs have used pepper since ancient times as a key ingredient in almost every dish they make. While some cultures use their peppers white, others prefer Sichuan Peppers or cloves. Whether white or with different spices, we can agree that dishes won't be quite as flavorful without them. if you want to add some to your dishes, go to our website.
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