What is the deal with the different colors of pepper? This is one of the first questions that occurred to me when I started to study pepper in depth. Are the black, green, red and white peppercorns different varieties? So are the different colors of pepper similar to the different grape varieties in wine? And: what kind of plant do they actually grow on? Trees? Bushes?
Is green pepper hotter than black pepper?
Green pepper is harvested unripe and then dried immediately, which preserves its beautiful olive green color. Because it is not ripe, the flavor is less spicy, milder and also has a fresh note. Sometimes the unripe grains are pickled in brine instead of being dried.
What is the difference between black and red pepper?
Black pepper is obtained from the unripe green or almost ripe yellow fruits and then gently dried. Drying in the sun preserves the aromas of the shell, which makes it particularly intense. Drying also causes the grains to turn black and wrinkled.
Pepper Colors: What is Real Red Pepper?
Red pepper is harvested when it is very ripe. Due to the advanced ripeness, the aroma is sharp and at the same time fresh, like green pepper. Red pepper is very rare because it is a big risk for farmers to leave the berries on the bush for so long. Rain or strong winds can destroy the harvest, or hungry birds can eat the delicious berries. I explain the difference between real red pepper and those that are not in this article .
Is white or black pepper hotter?
White pepper is only harvested when the berries are red, i.e. ripe. They are soaked in water for a few days until the red shell can be easily removed. The remaining white kernel is dried, which preserves the particularly sharp aroma of the fruit kernel. This greater spiciness compared to black pepper makes it particularly popular in Far Eastern cuisine.