Black Pepper

Peppercorns are the berries of the plant Piper nigrum. On the European market, pepper is sold as dried whole or ground/crushed berries.

The most commonly sold pepper on the European market is:

black pepper – dried, ripe berries

white pepper – dried berry seeds (skin of berries is removed)

Other types of pepper on the European market are green and pink peppercorns. These types can be sold mixed with black and white pepper. Green pepper is sold as a delicacy, preserved in brine (solution of salt in water) or vinegar.

Pepper is traded under two different Harmonised System (HS) codes. These codes cover whole pepper (HS code 090411) and crushed or ground pepper (HS code 090412).