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Pepper

Pepper, as used for seasoning, is the produce of a plant which grows almost exclusively in tropical countries, and is remarkable for its aromatic, hot, pungent taste. There are several kinds to be met with, of which the most important are black pepper, white pepper, long pepper, cayenne pepper, and Nepaul pepper. In order to test the quality of the peppercorns rub them between the hands; if they are easily crushed to powder they are bad. Pepper was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. We find two sorts described in the fourth century B.C. At one time it held a much more important place in the commerce of the world than now, having been, before the days of cotton, coffee, and sugar, a leading article in the traffic between Europe and India.