Pepper is one of the most appreciated spices. Its flavor is so penetrating that it can even be used as a substitute for salt.
With its spicy and aromatic aftertaste, pepper is used in countless dishes. It goes very well with meat and fish, but not all types of pepper are the same.
Two of the most used are white pepper and black pepper. What is the difference between them? Do they come from the same plant, or are they different spices?
The Web Greatist gives us the solution. Both types of pepper come from the same pepper plant, or Piper nigrum, but they are treated differently. There are more than 700 different species, but only a few make it possible to obtain the coveted pepper.
The black peppercorns are harvested when they are almost ripe and they dry in the sun, that’s why the outer layer turns black.
On the contrary, white pepper it is obtained because the outer layer is removed before or after drying, leaving only the inner seed.
White pepper tastes spicier than black pepper, but it’s simpler, with fewer flavor variations. The black one is slightly less spicy, but its flavor has more nuances, which is why it is the most popular.
Another important difference is that the white becomes stale and bitter before the black. It is worse preserved.
Black pepper is used more in America and Spain. White is highly appreciated in French, Swedish and Asian cuisine.
You also have to take into account the quality. A premium pepper allows you to appreciate more floral, spice and fruit notes than bulk pepper.
It is consumed all over the world. and for centuries it has been one of the most demanded and trafficked spices all over the world.
So you already know. If you prefer a spicier pepper, use the white one, but it has fewer nuances and it spoils sooner.
On the contrary, black pepper is more aromatic, has more nutrients because it preserves the skin, and lasts longer.