Spice mills such as pepper mills were found in European kitchens as early as the 14th century, but the mortar and pestle used earlier for crushing pepper have remained a popular method for centuries, as well. This spread couldn’t be any simpler to make. It takes only four ingredients and a few minutes to put together. Pepper can be preserved through drying easily enough, suggesting it was not preservation that would have been a major hurdle for its spread. Salt has been native to many regions and is commonly found; however, black pepper was a far more limited plant (Piper nigrum) that natively grew in South and Southeast Asia. Producing 36% of the world total in 2018, Vietnam is the largest producer and exporter of pepper. Details of this trading across the Indian Ocean have been passed down in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. Tapenade is a spread made by pulsing black olives, capers, garlic and some other ingredients until it is a spreadable paste. For more on the ancient use of black pepper, see: Ravindran, P. N., ed. Fresh, unpreserved green pepper drupes are used in some cuisines like Thai cuisine and Tamil cuisine. Pepper is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been known to Indian cooking since at least 2000 BCE. Once the peppercorns are dried, pepper spirit and oil can be extracted from the berries by crushing them. Red peppercorns usually consists of ripe peppercorn drupes preserved in brine and vinegar. Sprinkle the spread with the remaining 1/2 tsp. [28] After the fall of Rome, others took over the middle legs of the spice trade, first the Persians and then the Arabs; Innes Miller cites the account of Cosmas Indicopleustes, who travelled east to India, as proof that "pepper was still being exported from India in the sixth century". A riddle authored by Saint Aldhelm, a seventh-century Bishop of Sherborne, sheds some light on black pepper's role in England at that time: I am black on the outside, clad in a wrinkled cover, However, pepper and other spices certainly played a role in improving the taste of long-preserved meats. [12], In 2018, Vietnam was the world's largest producer and exporter of black peppercorns, producing 262,658 tonnes or 36% of the world total (table). [23] Ports in the Malabar area also served as a stop-off point for much of the trade in other spices from farther east in the Indian Ocean. Sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper and drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Ripe red peppercorns can also be dried using the same colour-preserving techniques used to produce green pepper.[8]. However, archaeologically and historically, the remains of pepper are minimal. With the conquests of Alexander, Greek colonists were now reaching India, and contacts became more common. Yet within I bear a burning marrow. Both the Silk Road and connections via the Indian Ocean were now vital to this trade.[4]. 2 Tbsp. ... Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. A savory spread made with real bacon, maple sugar, onions, apple cider vinegar, fennel and black pepper. ), World regions/Production/Crops for 2018 (from pick lists)", "Karvy's special Reports — Seasonal Outlook Report Pepper", "Trends in climate and productivity and relationship between climatic variables and productivity in black pepper (Piper nigrum)", "Artefacts from the lost Port of Muziris. caninum. [7], In the 20th century, with decolonization and the demise of major holding companies such as the British East India Company, the trade of black pepper was once again in the hands of the countries that grew it, mainly India southeast Asia. Arab traders controlled shipping in the Indian Ocean and trade across the Middle East, giving them a lot of power in the Silk Road trade activities.