The difference between black and white pepper

When was the last time you sat down to eat a home-cooked meal and didn’t reach for the salt and pepper shakers before you started dinner? Most likely, the pepper on your table is black.

Did you know that white pepper exists? They come from the same plant.

So what is the difference between black and white pepper? The main difference between black and white pepper is in the processing; however, by changing the preparation, there are some subtle and some not-so-subtle changes in color, consistency, and of course, flavor.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about black and white pepper.

Where does the pepper come from?

What we think of as pepper originally comes from peppercorns, which are the berries of a pepper plant called piper nigrum. This pepper plant is very different from the peppers we are used to growing in our gardens or buying at the local supermarket.

Peppercorns grow on vines native to India and Southeast Asia.  Like many fruits and vegetables, they start out green but turn a deep red as they ripen.

Depending on when they are harvested and how they are dried, the end product can be green, black, or white.

how pepper is made

To make the ground pepper that we are used to buying, the berries are first picked and dried. If the berry is picked while it is still green, it is more likely to be pickled, as it does not dry very well.

Most red or pink peppercorns are not actually peppercorns, but the berries of a different type of pepper tree, native to Brazil.

Black pepper is made by drying almost ripe berries.  The drying process usually consists of boiling them rapidly first, and then laying them out in the sun to dry.

Some commercial facilities dry them in kilns, though the Indian and Southeast Asian sun is certainly hot enough to get the job done quickly. As they dry, their skin darkens, turning almost completely black.

White pepper is also made from almost ripe berries, but before they are dried, the skin is removed, so they lose all their color.

The skin of ripe berries is quite fragile, so it is enough to submerge them under a constant stream of water to completely tear it off. Once they’re baby soft, they’re dry.

Black pepper benefits

For a simple spice that is often taken for granted, it is surprisingly healthy for you. It is full of antioxidants and many different vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients.

Pepper has been used in ancient and traditional healing practices to improve various conditions, including lowering inflammation, improving digestion, and lowering blood pressure. 

The anti-inflammatory properties alone help reduce the risk or experience of almost every known chronic disease, from asthma to cancer.

If you’ve heard of the many benefits of turmeric, you may also know that in order for your body to properly absorb the crucial component, curcumin, it needs some help.

Peperin and capsaicin are two very effective compounds in helping to increase the rate of absorption, and it turns out that pepper is almost 10% pepperin. It also seems to help absorb other nutrients, such as calcium and selenium, among others.

black pepper uses

I’m sure you’re used to adding pepper to most of your dinners and possibly even to your meals. It adds a nice touch of heat and earthy flavor to almost any savory meal and we’re so used to it that something seems to be missing without it.

There are some less common uses for pepper that may surprise you. 

My favorite is adding pepper to a bowl of strawberries.  I saw it in a recipe years ago and have been a convert ever since. The pepper serves to balance the acidity that your berry may have, enhancing its natural sweetness. If you add a little balsamic vinegar to the mix, you have a real hit.

This technique can be used with any fruit that has a sweet/sour combination when you want to focus on the sweet side of the equation.

There are even non-food uses for pepper . For example, ants and other pests will do their best to avoid it, so if it’s “that time of year,” just sprinkle some pepper their way and they’ll be more likely to stay out and off your counters.

Black pepper side effects

If you’ve ever accidentally knocked over a container of finely ground pepper and then inhaled deeply, you know that one of the side effects of pepper is that it makes you sneeze.

Some people are much more sensitive to pepper and will sneeze even if it’s been added to a dish and served to them, while others need to get their faces smeared with the spice to really feel bothered.

Why does pepper make you sneeze?  The cause is an alkaloid called piperine, which irritates the tiny hairs in the nose if inhaled. It is not especially dangerous, although it can be annoying.

The same compound can increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders, but only when taken in excess. Pepper is generally considered to be safe for everyone to eat, depending on personal taste and spiciness preferences.

White pepper benefits

The health and nutritional benefits of white pepper are more or less identical to those of black pepper, since they are the same plant, just processed differently. However, there are some benefits to choosing white pepper for certain recipes.

White pepper is generally considered to be slightly hotter than black pepper, although its flavor profile is less complex . In other words, all you get is heat with very little flavor.

There are certain compounds in the skin of peppercorns that add a depth of flavor to black pepper that is lost in white, including something a bit fruity or floral.

White pepper is best used in recipes that could use a bit of heat, but you don’t want to alter the flavor.  It’s also great when you don’t want little black pepper flecks to ruin your pretty presentation, especially for cream sauces or light garlic and oil stir-fries, for example.

It also works perfectly for salt and pepper mixtures in a salt shaker or mill, without the black and white contrast.

White pepper substitute

If you’re just looking to spice up a dish, you can substitute black pepper for white pepper in almost any recipe, although you may need to add a bit more to achieve the same level of heat.

Using black pepper as a substitute can be a bit tricky when making light-colored or creamy sauces, as the pepper will be more visually noticeable. 

Depending on the dish, you can also try adding some ground cayenne pepper instead. The powder will blend into the sauce less conspicuously, but you’ll need much less to get the same amount of heat. Try substituting ½ teaspoon of white pepper for 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

White pepper storage

One additional thing to keep in mind when it comes to white pepper is that it goes rancid more quickly than black pepper. If you’re like me, you’re probably surprised to hear that pepper can go rancid; it was not an idea that crossed my mind before researching this article.

But it’s true, black pepper lasts 2-3 years ground and up to 6 years in grain.

Ground white pepper, however, should be used within 1 year, and if stored well in an airtight container out of direct light, whole peppercorns will last 2-3 years. 

Although the pepper is unlikely to go bad, it will lose its potency and many cooks will replace their supply within 6 months.

Related questions

Why is white pepper so expensive?

White pepper is often more expensive than black, simply because more steps are required to prepare it for consumption. As with almost everything in life, the more difficult it is to create it, the higher its price will be.

Why is black pepper so common?

At some point, salt and pepper became hopelessly bound together, to the point that now it almost seems unnatural to add one without the other. While salt makes sense because it enhances our ability to capture unique flavors in food, pepper adds a specific heat and spice of its own.

Professional cooks will use black pepper much more discreetly than a home cook, but the simple answer is probably no more exciting than custom and tradition.

There is absolutely nothing stopping you from cutting out pepper, switching to another variety of pepper, or making an entirely different spice your basic choice.

Where does cayenne pepper come from?

Cayenne pepper is quite different from white or black pepper and is not obtained from peppercorns , but from a pepper plant, similar to bell peppers or jalapeños, although much hotter.