Good and bad pepper

Pepper is the Spice the oldest in the world and the most widely used nowadays to flavour our dishes. With its multiple virtues it would be a shame to Miss. Pepper is recognized for its digestive virtues (by increasing the secretion of pancreatic juice) and diuretics. It is also regarded as a stimulant and an antibacterial. However it is not recommended for people suffering from hemorrhoids and causes, at high doses, heartburn.

There are different types of peppers :

You should know that each type of pepper comes out of the same fruits that are picked at different times. The fruit is first green, then red, then Brown.

– Le poivre noir : comes out of red fruit and becomes, by drying, wrinkled and black. It is the most aromatic and pungent all pepper.

– Le poivre blanc : also from berries, but that it has boiled to remove bark (where the white colour). It is the least spicy of all.

– Le poivre gris : is the result of a mixture of black pepper and white pepper. It is often sold ground.

– Le poivre vert : is picked when the fruit is not yet ripe. It is less pungent than black.

– Le poivre rose : appelé également “faux poivre” est originaire, initially, the island of Réunion. It is slightly piquant but is very aromatic.

Tips to buy pepper :

Buy only pepper in grains ! The pepper may contain impurities, be moldy or even contain dust. Il peut être également “coupé” avec des aromates moins chers comme de la poudre de colza et de chènevis. The shelf life of ground pepper is 3 months maximum.

Buy peppercorns in small quantities and store them in jars or airtight bags stored in a place protected from light and dry because they quickly lose their flavors. Crush them just before you put on your plate so they release their perfume at the right time.

Check everything and they are heavy and compact to the purchase. A good trick to make sure that the grain is good : crush a grain on a sheet and look at if a little oil task sheet. It is a sign that peppercorns are recent and contain all their flavors.