What is so white about white pepper

It is the colour, nothing else. We use black pepper powder more often than white pepper powder. So what? Is there any difference between the two?

To know about this let us first understand what is peppercorn. A peppercorn is the berry of the pepper plant (piper nigrum), which is native to Southern Asia.

The difference between white and black pepper

Actually they both come from the same plant, but, as with red and green peppers, the final colour depends on their ripeness. A black peppercorn is picked when still green and dried in the sun until it turns black. Whereas a white peppercorn ripens fully on the vine before it is picked. 

Black pepper has a slightly hotter flavour and aroma. Though white ground pepper has the pungency of black peppers, it has a different flavour because of the loss of aroma compounds. Black pepper powder is considered to be stronger that the white pepper powder. Black ground pepper contains more essential oil content than white ground pepper. It contains about three per cent of essential oil.

Essence of white pepper

Known for its sharp bite, white pepper is used to add extra flavour to Chinese soups, meat and poultry marinades, and spicier stir-fries. 

White pepper consists of the seed of the pepper plant alone, with the darker-coloured skin of the pepper fruit removed. This is usually accomplished by a process known as retting, where fully ripe red pepper berries are soaked in water for about a week, during which the flesh of the pepper softens and decomposes. Rubbing then removes what remains of the fruit, and the naked seed is dried. 

Culinary uses of white pepper

Ground white pepper is often used in cream sauces, Chinese and Thai cuisine, and dishes like salad, light-coloured sauces and mashed potatoes, where black pepper would visibly stand out. White pepper has a slightly different flavour than black pepper.

Is it good for health

The calorie content in white pepper is 8 calories per 2 grams which comprises mostly of carbohydrates. Traces of protein and fat can be found in this pepper though it is quite rich in vitamins and minerals such as copper and manganese.

As with a lot other spices, one can find the use of pepper both as a spice and a medicine in history. 

As per reports white pepper was used in traditional Chinese medicine for joint pain and stiffness, such as from arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. It is also reported that white pepper is used in acupuncture moxibustion techniques. 

In Ayurvedic medicine, white pepper has been used to treat nasal congestion and hemorrhoids, dyspepsia, nausea, malaria, cholera, cancer, food poisoning, dysentery and gonorrhea. White pepper has also been applied topically to relieve pain. 

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