Product Specifications
black pepper, (Piper nigrum), perennial climbing vine of the family Piperaceae and the hotly pungent spice made from its fruits. Widely used as a spice around the world, pepper also has a limited usage in medicine as a carminative (to relieve flatulence) and as a stimulant of gastric secretions.
In early historic times pepper was widely cultivated in the tropics of Southeast Asia, where it became highly regarded as a condiment. Pepper became an important article of overland trade between India and Europe and often served as a medium of exchange; tributes were levied in pepper in ancient Greece and Rome. In the Middle Ages the Venetians and the Genoese became the main distributors in Europe, and their virtual monopoly of the trade helped instigate the search for an eastern sea route. The plant is widely cultivated throughout Indonesia and has been introduced into tropical areas of Africa and of the Western Hemisphere.
The black pepper plant is a woody climber and may reach heights of 10 metres (33 feet) by means of its aerial roots. Its broad shiny green leaves are alternately arranged. The small flowers are in dense slender spikes of about 50 blossoms each. The fruits, which are sometimes called peppercorns, are drupes about 5 mm (0.2 inch) in diameter. They become yellowish red at maturity and bear a single seed. Their odour is penetrating and aromatic; the taste is hot, biting, and very pungent. Ground black pepper contains up to 3 percent essential oil that has the aromatic flavour of Capsicum peppers but not the pungency. The characteristic flavour is principally derived from the chemical piperine, though the seeds also contain chavicine, piperidine, and piperettine.
- Antioxidants: Black pepper contains antioxidants that can help prevent or delay the effects of free radicals.
- Anti-inflammatory: Black pepper's anti-inflammatory properties may help with arthritis, asthma, and seasonal allergies.
- Nutrient absorption: Black pepper can help the body absorb nutrients.
- Improved brain function: Piperine, an alkaloid in black pepper, may help improve brain function.
- Blood sugar metabolism: Piperine may help improve blood sugar metabolism.
- Cancer-fighting: Piperine may have cancer-fighting properties.
- Cardiovascular health: Black pepper may help regulate inflammation, lipid metabolism, and oxidation status.
- Bone health: Black pepper contains manganese, which can help with bone health.
- Wound healing: Manganese in black pepper can help with wound healing
- Location: Choose a location with well-drained soil and partial sunlight. Black pepper plants can also tolerate full sun if the summers are mild. Avoid planting on slopes facing south or southwest, and instead prefer north or northeast slopes.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer with micronutrients regularly. You can also enrich the soil with organic matter.
- Pruning: Trim and prune the vines to encourage bushier growth.
- Disease and pest management: Remove dead or diseased branches to avoid diseases. Treat diseases like root rot promptly. Keep an eye out for pests like aphids and scale insects.
- Shade: Provide adequate shade for young plants.
- Mulching: Apply mulch with green leaf saw dust or coir dust towards the end of the north-eastern monsoon.
- Cover crops: Grow cover crops like Calapogonium muconoides and Mimosa invisa to prevent soil erosion and the spread of soil-borne pathogens.
- Raised beds: Use raised beds to improve drainage and avoid overwatering.
- Bordeaux mixture or neem oil spray: Apply Bordeaux mixture or neem oil spray to treat diseases like quick wilt or foot rot.
