Pink Peppercorns

About

Called rose pepper (rose peppercorn, Brazilian pepper, poivre rose, baie rose, poivre de Bourbon, Florida holly, “aroeira” among others). In fact, it’s not a pepper (which usually belong to the genus Piper, with over 2,000 known species) but rather a small tree of the species Schinus terebinthifolius. Although some sites on the net attribute its origin to Madagascar, it’s in fact native of Paraguay, northern Argentina and specially southern Brazil and Peru, where it has been used mainly for ornamental purposes.

The seeds of Schinus add a very mild pepper-like taste to food, and thus have been used in several dishes as a substitute to the usually spicier true peppers.

Information

Other names: Schinus

Translations: Rozā piparu, Rausvųjų pipirų, Piper roz, Pink Papar, Pink hồ tiêu, Różowego pieprzu, Roze peper, गुलाबी peppercorns, Pimenta Rosa, Розовый перец, Μούρων, حبوب الفلفل الوردي, 핑크 후추, Růžového pepře, Pink merica, 粉红胡椒, Grans de pebre rosa, Pink popra, Ružového korenia, Rosa Pepe, פינק פלפל, Rosépeppar, Пинк бибера, ピンク胡椒, Poivre rose, Rosa Pfefferkörner, Rosa peber, Rosa pepperkorn, Granos de pimienta rosa, Рожевий перець, Pink pippurit, Розов пипер

Physical Description

Pink "peppercorns" are small, pinkish-red berries that, with their smooth skin and puffy-hollow feel, do not closely resemble true peppercorns.

Colors: bright pink to rich rose

Tasting Notes

Flavors: spicy, delicate, sweet

Mouthfeel: Crunchy, Spicy, Hot, Papery

Food complements: Potatoes, Cheese, Fruit, Seafood

Wine complements: White wine

Substitutes: Black peppercorns, Green peppercorns

Selecting and Buying

Choosing: Pink "peppercorns" are sold freeze dried, either in individual containers, or in peppercorn mixes as a seasoning, or brine cured for use in salads. seafood, poultry, or vegetable dishes.

Buying: Pink peppercorns are popular world wide. They are available either freeze dried and sold on their own in containers, added into gourmet peppercorn mixes, or brine cured (though they do tend to lose some of their characteristic color). Large chain-stores or supermarkets usually carry them, they can also be bought in bulk on the internet and from specialty or boutique stores.

Procuring: Pink peppercorns, while native to South America, are grown throughout the world. In the U.S. the shrubs grow wild in California, Texas, and Florida. The shrubs grow very well in wet environments.