One of the most commonly used spices in the world, pepper has been in high demand for over 3,000 years and at one time represented 70 percent of the international trade in spices. Today, it still accounts for over 25 percent of all spices sold and remains a basic component in the dishes of many cultures.
Indigenous to southwest India, the Piper nigrum vine from which the peppercorn is harvested produces clusters of berries, which are typically dried and coarsely ground before they are added to food as a seasoning. As the popularity of pepper spread throughout the world, so did the cultivation of Piper nigrum, but the vine’s demand for hot temperatures and abundant sunlight restricted its growth to countries near the equator.
In the spice market today, India still remains a major producer of peppercorns but was recently surpassed by Vietnam, where over 30 percent of the world’s pepper supply originates. Other major producers include Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China.