Pepper - Pepper (English spelling) Piper nigrum; pepper

Japanese: コショウ(胡椒) - コショウ（英語表記）Piper nigrum; pepper

An evergreen perennial vine of the Piperaceae family, native to South India. It grows well in hot and humid tropical rainforests, and is widely cultivated in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries, as well as Brazil. The stems can reach 5m in length and 1-2cm in diameter, and roots emerge at each node, twining around other plants. Dioecious, they usually produce drooping spikes in March-April and August-September, with numerous small white flowers. The fruits are spherical and about 5mm in diameter when ripe, turning red, and have a strong aroma and spiciness. They have been used as a spice since ancient times. Black pepper is made from the unripe fruit with the skin, while white pepper is made from the seeds of the fully ripe fruit, with the skin and flesh removed. Both are powdered and have a wide range of uses, such as as a spice in cooking or for making sausages.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

コショウ科の常緑多年生つる植物で，南インド原産。高温多湿の熱帯雨林によく育ち，インドネシアなど東南アジアやブラジルで広く栽培されている。茎は長さ 5m以上，直径1～2cmに達し，節ごとに根を出して他物にからみついて伸びる。雌雄異株で，通常は3～4月と8～9月に垂れ下がった穂状花序を生じ，多数の白色の小花をつける。果実は直径 5mmぐらいの球形で赤く熟し，強い香気と辛みがあって，古くから香辛料に用いられている。成熟前の果実を皮ごとに用いたものが黒胡椒で，また完熟した果実の果皮や果肉を取除いて種子だけから製したものが白胡椒である。いずれも粉末にして料理の香辛料やソーセージ製造用など用途は広い。

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