Black Pepper
Black pepper is the fruit of the black pepper plant from the Piperaceae family and is used as both, spice and medicine. The spiciness comes from the chemical piperine. It is native to Kerala, the southern state of India. Since ancient times, black pepper is one of the most widely-traded spices in the world. It is not a seasonal plant making it available throughout the year. When dried, this plant-derived spice is referred to as a peppercorn. Due to its antibacterial properties, pepper is used to preserve food. Black pepper is also a very good anti-inflammatory agent.