Do you love the flavor of freshly ground black pepper? The sharp, zesty flavor can be added to just about any dish, from savory to sweet. But what exactly is black pepper, and why is it so popular? In this post, we’ll explore the history, production, and uses, as well as its health benefits. You’ll learn why it is an essential ingredient in many dishes, and why you should add it to your own cooking. So read on to learn more about this beloved spice.
Black Pepper Nutrition Facts and Calories Chart
It is a nutrient-dense spice that provides various amounts of essential minerals and vitamins. This spice is an excellent source of manganese, dietary fiber, iron, potassium, vitamin K, and copper. It also contains smaller amounts of vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. A one-teaspoon serving of black pepper contains seven calories, one gram of carbohydrate, and trace amounts of fat and protein. Nutritional value per 100 g black pepper:
- Biotin: 0.6 µg
- Calcium: 166 mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 31.7 g
- Chloride: 94 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Choline: 3.2 mg
- Chromium: 0.2 µg
- Copper: 0.5 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 5.4 g
- Energy (Calories): 249 kcal
- Fat: 5.4 g
- Iodine: 0.4 µg
- Iron: 5.4 mg
- Magnesium: 178 mg
- Manganese: 2.1 mg
- Molybdenum: 0.3 µg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0.5 mg
- Phosphorus: 93 mg
- Potassium: 605 mg
- Protein: 9.8 g
- Saturated fat: 1.3 g
- Selenium: 0.8 µg
- Sodium: 127 mg
- Sugars: 4.2 g
- Vitamin A: 486 IU
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0.5 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.4 mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 4.9 mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 0.5 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.6 mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 20 µg
- Vitamin B12: 0 µg
- Vitamin C: 33.8 mg
- Vitamin D: 0 IU
- Vitamin E: 0.6 mg
- Vitamin K: 22.2 µg
- Water: 8.8 g
- Zinc: 2.1 mg
Black Pepper in India
In Ayurvedic traditions, it is named after the Sanskrit word for the sun. Black pepper contains very potent solar energy, and is a powerful digestive stimulant. This spice is rajasic, or energy-producing, in nature. It has a heating and drying effect. The taste is pungent and bitter.
- Scientific Binomial: Piper nigrum
- Common English: Pepper
- Ayurvedic: Maricha / Vellaja / Uushna / Suvrrita / Krishnaa
- Unani: Filfil Siyah / Safed
- Sanskrit: Marich
- Hindi / Urdu: Kali Mirch
- Bengali: Goal Morich / Kala Morich
- Marathi: Golmirich / Mire
- Telugu: Miryalatige
- Tamil: Kurumilagu / Milagu
- Gujarati
- Kannada: Karimenasu
- Malayalam: Kurumulaku / Kurumulagu
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Home Remedies
- Productive Cough: For a productive cough, the simplest home remedy is black pepper. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of the powder with 1 teaspoon of honey, and eat it on a full stomach. If your voice is hoarse, use 1 teaspoon of ghee instead of the honey.
- Congestion: The heating quality of this spice helps relieve congestion and drives out the cough. Take 2 or 3 times a day for 3 to 5 days.
- Patchy Loss of Hair: Try pepper for patchy loss of hair. The seeds of lime and black pepper seeds ground to get a fine paste. Apply this paste on the patches. It may irritate little at the beginning. The paste increases blood circulation in the affected area and stimulates hair growth. The paste should be applied twice a day for a few weeks.
- Energy Booster: To promote movement and the clearing out of anxious mental energy consume teas that are gentle and warming. Use spices and herbs such as ginger, black pepper and cumin.
- Cataract: Black pepper can be a valuable remedy for cataract. Grind seven kernels of almonds and half a gram of pepper together in water, and then drink the mixture after sifting and sweetening the mixture with sugar candy. It helps the eyes to regain their vigor.
- Cholera: In the treatment of cholera, take about 30 grams of onion and seven black peppers. Finely pound both the ingredients in a pestle and give it to the patient. It allays thirst and restlessness and the patient feels better.
- Malaria: The juice of about 11 grams of tulsi leaves mixed with three grams of black pepper, powder, can be taken beneficially in the cold stage of the malarial fever. This will check the severity of the disease.
- Fever: In case of chronic fever, make a tea of 1 teaspoon holy basil steeped in 1 cup hot water. Add 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1 teaspoon honey. Take this 2 or 3 times a day.
- For arsenic poisoning take about 15 gm. of black pepper powder along with honey, thrice a day.
- Scorpion Sting: To treat snake bite and scorpion sting, an infusion of 20 peppercorns in 180 ml of water. Take this infusion thrice a day.
- Sinus Congestion: Black pepper oil can be used to clear sinus congestion and stimulate fat reduction.
- Constipation: Black pepper will stimulate digestion, which can improve the absorption of nutrients. Oil of black pepper will stimulate a sluggish digestive system and improve overall circulation. Dilute it in some carrier oil, and rub directly onto the abdomen. It also relieve constipation. Use it on a hot compress applied directly to the abdomen.
- Joint Pain: Black pepper and ginger encourage blood flow and will help revive tired joints and muscles.
- Migraine: A compress of sliced raw potatoes, sprinkled with pepper applied to the forehead for an hour is said to work very well to hold off a migraine as well.
- Bronchitis: Effective remedy for bronchitis can be made by using a mixture of dried ginger powder, black pepper and long pepper taken in equal quantities three times a day. It may be licked with honey or infused with one’s daily tea. The powder of these three ingredients have antipyretic qualities and are effective in dealing with fever accompanied by bronchitis.
- Menstrual Cramps: For dysmenorrhea, take 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel with 2 pinches of black pepper 3 times a day until the cramps subside.
- Memory Tonic: Here is a memory tonic with this spice. 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel with a pinch of black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon bhringaraj powder, taken 2 or 3 times a day, is very beneficial memory formula.
- Bleeding: Some people claim that pouring black pepper on a cut will stop the bleeding in a snap. It may or may not stop the bleeding any faster, but black pepper does have painkilling, antiseptic, and antibiotic properties.
Side Effects
Overuse may cause hyper secretions of digestive juices, leading to a burning sensation in the digestive tract. Large amounts may elevate blood pressure. Do not use in high pitta state or in cases of inflammation of the digestive organs. Overuse of stimulant herbs can impair your body’s natural balancing systems. If you find you are attracted to adding pepper to most of food, then start cutting back.