History

If we take a look at the history of this native spice of Southeast Asia & India, this was the only spice used in the culinary to make spicy-hot food since 2000 BC. In fact, there is a mention of black pepper, but no other pepper in Ain-e-Akbari (biography of the Mughal emperor Akbar), which was written somewhere in the 16th century. Sources say that red chili or chili pepper was being introduced to India by the Portuguese. As Portuguese came to India in the late 18th century, they brought red chili and few other chili peppers with them and hence the existence of other chili peppers came into being. Black pepper was one such expensive spice that used to be the commodity trade through China, Europe & Rome, hence only rich people could afford to buy it.

Trivia

Black pepper belongs to the family of Piperaceae which is mainly cultivated for its fruit, used as spice, seasoning and also for its medicinal properties. Even today, it is one such spice that is widely traded across the world and is one of the major seasoning ingredients along with salt, in many cuisines across the world.

Often times the widespread usage of eatables like fruits (e.g. mango, strawberry etc.) can be ascribed to its exotic taste or striking appearance. This spice has no such quality; on the contrary, has very pungent nature and doesn't even has a very pleasing appearance. In spite of this, it has been exported from India since very long time to the western part of the world.

Health Benefits

It is often used to satiate the sensation of eating spicy-hot food. It is known for its pungency and spicy flavor, but apart from its usage as a spice, it has tons of medicinal value. According to Ayurveda, black pepper is used to cure several illnesses such as constipation, insomnia, cold and cough. Being a rich source of antioxidants, it helps to improve digestion when taken in small quantity and promotes intestinal health. Freshly crushed pepper mixed with a spoon of honey and ginger juice gives quick relief in cold and cough. Pepper oil is also used for ayurvedic massage therapy.
So next time don’t forget to add this humble spice to your grocery list which has benefits beyond imagination!