South Asia

Black Pepper

Piper nigrum.

Dried unripe berry.

Part Used

Dried, whole or ground.

Form

Kali mirch (Hindi); milagu (Tamil).

India (Kerala/Malabar coast is the historic epicenter), Sri Lanka, broader South Asia.

Sharp, woody heat with citrus-pine top notes.

The most widely used pungent spice in South Asian and world cooking.

Pepper rasam; countless curries and marinades; the base of most garam masala formulations.

Cumin, coriander, ghee.

Grind fresh at the point of use for maximum pungency; whole peppercorns can go in early for a milder, rounder heat.

Whole peppercorns keep 3+ years sealed and dark; ground loses potency within months.

White pepper (milder, less complex) or long pepper.

India's Malabar coast was the original 'Spice Coast' that drove much of the historic maritime spice trade between Europe and Asia.

Garam masala (virtually universal); sambar powder; rasam powder.