In the annals of spice trade history, black pepper was esteemed as "black gold," once employed as currency for taxes and dowries. Despite its historical significance, black pepper often languishes as the most forgotten herb, relegated to the pre-ground shakers that have adorned our tables as a decoration only. Unfortunately, black pepper loses its potency shortly after grinding. If you're using pre-ground pepper, you are missing out on its full potential.
Ever wondered about the different peppercorn options? Here's a fun fact: all peppercorns come from the same plant. Black peppercorns are picked unripe, boiled, and dried; green ones are unripe and pickled or freeze-dried; red peppercorns are picked ripe and dried; whereas white peppercorns are picked ripe, soaked in water, and then dried.
The simplest change you can make for better health is to switch to a pepper grinder and freshly grind your pepper when needed. Keep it easily accessible to add a spicy finishing touch to your meals and elevate your culinary experience. This unassuming spice, despite its cute demeanor, packs a robust punch. As you might know, black pepper imparts a sense of warmth and dryness. Additionally, it stimulates gastric juices, aiding digestion. If you've ever overindulged in a heavy meal and felt like you were digesting a boulder, black pepper might be your digestive friend. The warmth of black pepper spices up your digestion, warms up the engine if you will, and keeps it running until the job is done. Notably, it enhances nutrient absorption, making it a perfect companion for anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric. Its synergy with turmeric can significantly boost turmeric absorption. There have also been studies to suggest the absorption and distribution of berberine, beta-carotene, co-Q10, pyridoxine, and selenium. Black pepper may also increase the absorption of some medications, but at common food doses, it does not seem to be a concern.
Besides its digestive benefits, black pepper acts as a circulatory stimulant, promoting blood circulation throughout the body, and warming up cold extremities. Its dual role as a circulatory stimulant and anti-inflammatory agent makes it effective in alleviating pains associated with arthritis and sore muscles.
While large doses on an empty stomach can cause nausea, incorporating small amounts (¼-½ tsp per meal) into your foods ensures you reap its benefits without adverse effects. Although tincture forms in large doses may affect thyroid hormone levels and may have herb-drug interactions, culinary amounts in food and teas pose no concern.
For those battling sinus congestion, cough, or general sluggishness, consider black pepper ghee or black pepper-infused honey.
Black Pepper Ghee:
Ingredients:
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp ghee
Black Pepper Infused Honey:
Ingredients
¾ tsp freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp powdered ginger
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dried sage
½ cup local raw honey
Here are some other recipes for expanding your black pepper repertoire:
Black Pepper Pesto
Ingredients
4 cups fresh basil leaves or a mix of basil and other fresh greens of your choice
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts or walnuts
3-5 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated black pepper Romano
Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Spicy Chai Tea
Ingredients
¼ cup cardamom powder
¼ cup cinnamon powder, freshly ground if possible
4 Tbsp black peppercorns, freshly ground
2 Tbsp fennel seeds, freshly ground
2 Tbsp ginger powder
1 Tbsp ground nutmeg
1 Tbsp ground clove
Pepper and Spice Butter Cookies
Ingredients
2 ¼ cups of flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup softened unsalted butter
1 egg or ¼ cup applesauce
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp ground ginger (or candied ginger)
½ tsp ground cloves
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Black Pepper Essential Oil
Extracted through steam distillation of dried peppercorns, the essential oil has a distinctive scent of a blend of peppery, fresh, and woody aromas. The essential oil has a unique versatility and captures the concentrated essence of the spice as it is warming, vasodilatory, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, expectorant, and when used topically can aid digestion and ease sore muscles. Used in aromatherapy, it can promote mental alertness, enhance focus, reduce anxiety, support the immune system, and may even support smoking cessation.
To explore this oil, try blending black pepper essential oil in a carrier oil to create a massage oil, or make a stock blend for use in a diffuser. Black pepper essential oil blends well with a wide range of other oils like citrus oils such as sweet orange and bergamot, other spices such as cinnamon and clove, and woody scents such as juniper berry, cedarwood, and Siberian fir.
Black pepper is a humble yet impactful aromatic powerhouse that is worth incorporating into our daily routines, both culinary-wise and aromatically. Enjoy it with open arms.
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