Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. When dried, the fruit is known as a peppercorn. Once the peppercorns are dried, pepper spirit and oil can be extracted from the berries by crushing them.
White pepper consists of the seed of the pepper plant alone, with the darker-colored skin of the pepper fruit removed.
Green peppercorns are true peppercorns of the Piper nigrium flowering vine plant, which originated in India and has been used since prehistoric times. Green peppercorns are really unripe black peppercorns. These are often preserved in brine or vinegar and served in pickled form. In dried form, they don't last very long and have to be used quickly. They're commonly found in Thai and other Southeast Asian recipes and have a fresher flavor than their black counterparts.
