BLACK PEPPER

     BLACK PEPPER

  The story of this little spice is the history of trade in the Indian ocean.From a wild vine which is native of the western ghats,india pepper is now a common seasoning found at almost all dinner tables in European restuarants. Well ,there was a time when pepper was only for the wealthy .A time when it was called the ‘black gold’.The Egyptians were the first international fans of the spice, pepper was found in nostrils of mummy of pharaoh Remesses II .Later the Romans grew fond of the spice and introduced it to Europe.The roman emperors even gave pepper as a tribute to their conquerors .After the fall of Romans ,Arabs conquered the trade ,made myths about pepper trees being guarded by serpents with magic .The venetians ,Spaniards ,Dutch and finally the British came for it . Columbus found the Americas in search of the spice nation. The delicacy from the hills of Idukki with its rich history and legacy of 4000 years is now packed freshly inside.