White vs Black Pepper
The culinary world would not be the same without the various herbs, spices, and condiments that, when mixed with the right dishes, ignite the taste buds with delight. One such spice is pepper, which adds flavor and a bit of a bite to dishes. Pepper is available in two varieties: white pepper and black pepper. But what makes them different? Let’s find out.
What is White Pepper?
White pepper comes from the seed of the flowering vine of the Piperaceae family and is used as a seasoning and flavoring agent in various foods. To produce white pepper, the berries are harvested when fully ripe and then soaked in water for about a week. During this time, the skin around the seed decomposes and sheds itself in a process called retting. After this, the seeds are rubbed together, removing any remaining flesh before being dried and ground into a powder. In most cases, the removal of the outer layer or flesh of the seed is accomplished through biological and chemical methods.
White pepper is mainly used in light-colored dishes to maintain their appearance. It is commonly used in light-colored Chinese dishes or recipes like light-colored sauces, salads, or mashed potatoes.
What is Black Pepper?
Black pepper also comes from the flowering vine of the Piperaceae family. To produce black pepper, unripe pepper drupes are harvested while still green. These drupes are then boiled in hot water to clean them of unnecessary skin and flesh, where the heat ruptures the walls of the seed, speeding up the browning enzyme process observed during drying. The seeds are then dried, either by sun or machine, and the remaining skin and flesh around the seed shrink in the heat, settling in black folds around the drupe, giving it a wrinkled appearance. These can then be powdered or used whole in various dishes.
Key Takeaways
- Both white and black pepper come from the same vine of the Piperaceae family, with the most obvious difference between the two being their color: white pepper is white, while black pepper is dark brown or black.
- White pepper is used in light-colored dishes where discoloration needs to be avoided, while black pepper is much stronger in flavor and aroma due to the presence of the skin and flesh.
- Black pepper contains more essential spirits and oils, which is why it is mostly used for beauty products and medicinal practices, whereas white pepper is commonly used as a cure for malaria and cholera.
