Pepper. It Can Make You Sneeze. It Also Gives Food a Burst of Flavor.

Grind some fresh pepper on your latest culinary creation and it can definitely make you sneeze. It can also make your food come alive with flavor. Do you know the differences between the colors of pepporcorns?

Almost every home kitchen and restaurant table in America has a salt and pepper shaker on it. Some even pepper grinders. Most people believe salt helps bring out the full flavor of food. So does pepper. Better yet, it is much healthier for you. Salt can elevate your blood pressure. For those of us who suffer from high blood pressure, we really have to be careful with the salt. Pepper, on the other hand, can really bring out the flavor. Many sources say it also has health benefits, such as improving digestion.

But hey, do you know where your pepper comes from, other than the local grocery store.? I sure didn’t. Actually, peppercorns grow on a perrenial bush, and India is the largest supplier of pepper in the world? The bushes have flowers which become berries. Peppercorns are actually the berries and from these berries we get three different kinds of peppercorns…black, green and white. Their potency and color depend on when and how and when they are harvested and processed. When mixed together, they make for a colorful presentation.

Black pepper is the most common and pungent and is usually picked just before the berries ripen. The corns can be whole, crushed or ground. It can make your nose tickle. Green pepper is strong, can be tart but doesn’t linger very long. White pepper comes from a mature berry that turned pink and again turns white after drying. It has a flavor similar to black pepper. It is often used in place of black pepper in white recipes such as gravies, sauces, on fish and chicken.

Pink and red peppercorns are a different a kind of berry. They are usually more expensive and a little harder to find and have a sweeter taste.

So the next time you want to bring out the full flavor of your food, grind some pepper…and please…..hold the sneeze.