Plant Description:
Native to India, Vietnam, the black pepper plant is a climbing vine that can grow up to 10 meters high. The stem of the black pepper plant grows into a plentiful green column as the many shoots that grow from the stem begin to produce green, almond-shaped leaves. Growing next to these luscious leaves are clustered flowers and the fruit of the plant—the peppers. The peppers, or fruits, are round and can grow to be approximately 6 mm in diameter. These fruits turn from green to red and are picked at various times of their ripening stages to produce varying types of peppers. In order to produce black pepper, these tiny and rotund fruits are typically picked when they are fully grown, shiny, and green.
Black Pepper is one of the oldest known spices. An early record of the plant was found in a 4th Century BCE work by Theophrastus who is considered the Father of Botany. The desire for new spice trade routes sparked exploration of the globe, including to the New World.
Throughout the ages, many cultures understood the value and benefits of the spice. Black Pepper has been used in natural medicine and cuisine in India for thousands of years. From India, the spice was brought to Vietnam, Indonesia for cultivation.
Black Pepper finally reached the height of its popularity in the Middle Ages in Europe. It was only available to the very wealthy and added to food increase the flavour and health benefits of dishes. While its value and popularity declined from this point in history, it is still one of the most used spices today.
Black Pepper Oil properties
Appearance: Clear, Mobile Liquid
Color: Colorless to light greenish yellow liquid
Odor: Having a strong characteristic odor of pepper
Specific Gravity: 0.864 – 0.884
Optical Rotation: 1.479 – 1.488
Optical rotation: -1 to -23
Main constituents: Beta Carophyllene, D-Limonene
Applications:
Flavoring Agent: Black pepper essential oil used as flavouring agent in food, in cosmetic and ingredient in traditional medicine.
Aromatic Agent: Black pepper essential oil is the most known aromatic herbaceous semi liquid used in aromatherapy, Personal care ingredient, Pharmaceutical, perfume industry, air freshener, diffuser & Ayurveda formulation.
Therapeutic: The therapeutic properties of black pepper essential oil include analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, aphrodisiac, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative, rubefacient and tonic (especially of the spleen).
Nutritional: Black pepper essential oil may contain not only anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and fever-reducing actions, but immune system-enhancing properties as well. It’s used for the nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, food products formulation.
Benefits:
Black Pepper Essential Oil is an all-rounder with varied benefits serving in medicine, preservative, perfuming, and flavouring agent.
Black pepper essential oil is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent, analgesic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral besides possessing regenerative properties.
Black pepper essential oil is composed of various chemical constituents and includes the following; a-thujone, a-pinene, camphene, sabinene, b-pinene, a-phellandrene, myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, b-farnesene, b-bisabolene, linalool and terpinen-4-ol.