Pepper is the dried berry of Piper nigrum. This vine which can grow up to ten feet tall is indigenous to India and Asia.The Pepper plant produces berries, they are dried and ground with the skin on to give black pepper, or with the skins off to give white pepper. White pepper is mainly used in Thai cooking. Pepper is actually berries that are picked about nine months after flowering. Black, white and green peppercorn types. Black Pepper has a sharp, pungent aroma and flavour. White Pepper is hotter, less subtle and mildly fermented. Green Peppercorn is milder in flavour and has a fresh taste. Green Peppercorns are available all year round but are best towards the end of the rainy season. Used as a spice and condiment, pepper contains a 2-4% volatile oil. Therapeutic uses are as carminative, antipyretic, diaphoretic and diuretic agents.