Pink Peppercorns

Black, green, and white peppercorns all come from the same plant, a vine native to the Malabar Coast of India and the Island of Sri Lanka, the Piper nigrum vine. The vine belongs to the Piperaceae family of plants. "Piperaceae" means pepper.

Pink peppercorns do not belong to the black peppercorn family (Piperaceae, pepper), nor do they belong to the Szechwan peppercorn family (Rutaceae, rue). They belong to the cashew family known as "Anacardiaceae." There are over 650 species of trees, shrubs, and vines in the family. The tree, known as "Schinus molle," on which the pink peppercorns or berries grow is native to Central and South America. The tree is also known as the "Peruvian pepper tree" and "Peruvian mastic tree." It is a small ornamental evergreen tree with long lacy, feathery leaves that contain a volatile oil which exudes a pleasant aroma. Small white flowers form in clusters at the end of the branches. On the female tree, the flowers become berries and hang in long clusters, much like the green peppercorns of the true pepper vine. All parts of the tree - leaves, flowers, and berries - are aromatic.

In its native habitat, the berries were used to make a fermented alcoholic drink and as a medicine. The berries have a bright pink husk and a black interior seed, which is fairly hard. They have a rich sweet flavor and a degree of heat. The berries are used in a decorative manner to add color to a dish, and also to add some sweetness and heat. They are also a common ingredient in fancy pepper mixes, along with green, black, and white peppercorns.

Just as the vanilla vine was native to Mexico, but taken from there to the islands of Madagascar and Reunion, just off the east coast of Africa, so was the pink peppercorn tree. Now Reunion is the source of most pink peppercorns. That is where our Vanns pink peppercorns come from.

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