Our white pepper powder is a super fine mesh size and the smallest white peppercorn grind we offer. White pepper has delicate floral, earthy tastes and is far less pungent than black pepper. Powdered white pepper can be used to seamlessly blend into soups, sauces, and creams for a mellow zest without the colored flecks or chewy grind. We finely grind whole organic peppercorns for our white pepper powder.
The traditional processing method for white pepper includes soaking the peppercorn in water for approximately one week, removing the outer papery skin, and then drying. This method exposes the seed of the fully ripened fruit, also known as the white peppercorn. Native to southern India, Piper nigrum, is an evergreen climbing vine cultivated in tropical regions around the world. Black, green, and white peppercorns all come from this same tropical vine and differences in color and taste are due to their unique harvest time and processing method. A member of the Piperaceae family, Piper nigrum is a cousin to other plants such as long pepper and kava kava.
Black pepper is a familiar spice employed for its healthful properties and in seasoning foods. However, white pepper has similar effects although milder. White pepper’s gentler taste is due to the outer skin being removed after soaking. This strips away one of the main chemical constituents of the peppercorn, piperine, which is concentrated in the papery outer layer and thought to be responsible for black pepper’s pungency and healthful qualities.
White pepper is popular in global cuisines including European, Chinese, and Thai cooking. White pepper powder can be dusted into mashed potatoes, soups, chowders, and cream-based recipes where a uniform color is desired. White pepper is most useful for adding a faint peppery flavor to light-colored sauces without adding flecks of color or a gritty texture.
