Black Peppercorns© Denzil Green
Peppercorns grow on a vine that grows anywhere from 12 to 20 feet (3 ½ to 6 metres.)
The vine has a woody stem, and produces white flowers which in turn produce peppercorns as fruit.
The peppercorns start off green, and when ripe, turn red.
To make Black Peppercorns, the berries are gathered while still green, and allowed to dry and ferment. The fungus that causes the fermentation turns them black.