Tellicherry pepper, Piper Nigrum, is believed by many to be the best black pepper that you can get. Many folks refer to it as simply Tellicherry. Named after a port on the Northern end of India's Malabar coast, Tellicherry pepper is a high quality grade of uniform, large, "bold" Malabar pepper. In the beginning, the northern Tellicherry berries had the reputation for being truly superior in both the size of the berry and the quality of the taste. However, now the term Tellicherry is used more as a designation to a peppers quality rating.Where Black Peppercorns are FromBlack pepper is native to south India, and is extensively cultivated there and elsewhere in tropical regions. According to the International Pepper Committee (IPC), Vietnam is the world's largest producer and exporter of pepper; where they have more than 50,000 pepper plantations. Vietnam exports black pepper to more than 90 countries and territories and produces 4 times as much pepper as India.Dried ground black pepper may be one of the world's oldest traded spices and has been used both for its flavor and for medicinal purposes for centuries. Black pepper's spiciness is due to the chemical piperine, which should not be confused with the capsaicin that gives chile peppers their heat. Black pepper is considered ubiquitous to most but to a discerning pepper connoisseur there are significant differences.What's All the Fuss About Tellicherry PepperPeppercorns from India are typically categorized by their place of origin. Two types come from India's Malabar Coast: Malabar and Tellicherry. Tellicherry comes from grafted Malabar plants grown on Mount Tellicherry. Tellicherry peppercorns differ from Malabar peppercorns as the Tellicherry berries are left to ripen on the vines longer, which allows for a fuller flavor to develop. These farmers must be very experienced in order to manage the tricky balancing act involved that allows for a complete development in the flavor and size of the berries on the vine without allowing sugar content to rise to where losses will occur from spoiling. The result of this expertise is a slightly larger peppercorn that has a little less pungent flavor, but a more deeply rich and complex pepper aroma.Tellicherry peppercorns are considered to be some of the finest peppercorns in the world, and one of the few familar "names" in pepper. Our Tellicherry peppercorns are plump and bursting with essential oil - which is where the signature aroma and flavor come from - not dried and withered like many peppercorns you will find on the market.Flavor ProfileOur Tellicherry peppercorns have an aroma that's a bit citrusy and grassy with hints of cedar, cherries and juniper. The balanced flavor and complex aroma make it an excellent stand alone pepper. Helpful HintsThese magnificent whole black peppercorns will enhance the natural flavors of a tremendous variety of foods.1/4 cup of tellicherry peppercorns = approximately 1 oz. We alsocarry a full slate of other whole peppers - Black, Green, Pink, Sichuan, White and a Black and White Blend that is perfect for your kitchen table peppermill.
