Where is pepper native to? A look at the origins of pepper

Pepper is a seasoning loved by people who enjoy spicy flavors, but it is not a native Chinese crop. Where is pepper native to?

1. Pepper's native origin

Pepper originated in tropical regions such as Southeast Asia and South Asia, and legend has it that Zhang Qian brought it back to China when he was sent on a mission to the Western Regions. By the mid-Ming Dynasty, pepper began to be introduced for cultivation, and its growing range gradually expanded, making it one of the common plants of later times.

2. Varieties of pepper

1. White pepper: This is one of the seasonings we use in daily life. It is the dried, nearly ripe fruit of the pepper plant in the Piperaceae family, with a fragrant aroma. It is mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan, among other places. Its surface is yellowish-white or pale yellowish-white and smooth, with many light-colored linear stripes between the top and the base, and its medicinal value is slightly higher than that of black pepper.

2. Black pepper: This is also one of the seasonings often used in our diet. It is a flowering vine in the Piperaceae family, native to the Malabar Coast of India, and is cultivated in Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan, Hainan and other places in China. Its fruit tastes rather spicy.

3. Green pepper: Green pepper has a lower level of spiciness and is used in cream and dairy products and duck dishes. It is mainly produced in Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, Ceylon, Singapore and other places.

4. Red pepper: Red pepper is the fruit of the Brazilian pepper tree, native to Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, among other places, and was later introduced to many places, mainly as an ornamental or shade plant.

Although pepper is spicy, it adds a lot of flavor. It also has the effect of killing insects and relieving itching, and it is used in many Sichuan dishes. Friends who are interested can give it a try.