Black pepper comes from the fruit of a flowering vine called Piper nigrum , which belongs to the Piperaceae family. The plant is native to the Malabar Coast of India, particularly the tropical region of Kerala, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years
. The pepper fruit, known as a drupe, grows in clusters similar to grapes. The small berries are picked while still green and unripe, then cooked briefly in hot water and sun-dried, during which they shrivel and darken to become black peppercorns-the spice commonly known as black pepper
. The spiciness of black pepper comes from the compound piperine, distinct from the heat of chili peppers
. Though originally native and primarily cultivated in India, black pepper is now also grown in other tropical regions including Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia, with Vietnam currently being the largest producer worldwide
. In summary, black pepper originates from the dried fruit of the Piper nigrum vine, native to southern India’s Malabar Coast, and has become a globally cultivated and traded spice
