by Melissa Chichester
You use it to spice up your favorite foods… You use it when something needs a little extra flavor… Of course, we’re talking about one of the most versatile spices out there: black pepper! This kitchen table staple is more than just a way to jazz up your food. It has some surprising wellness benefits too – so let us take you on a tour of “the king of spices” in its patented form, BioPerine®.
For centuries, black pepper has been a highly regarded spice. Native to south Asia, black pepper became a highly valuable and sought-after spice. The term “peppercorn rent” – which means a small payment is required to make good on a legal contract – dates back to 1013 England. Ships were required to pay a toll of a ten-pound sack of pepper to enter Billingsgate, a water gate in London. And here’s another unique historical fact about black pepper: Egyptian pharaoh, Ramesses II, had black peppercorns stuffed into his nostrils during mummification!
Besides its history, black pepper is best known for its pungent, hot, and spicy taste. This is because it contains an active component called piperine. BioPerine is a standardized form (95%) of black pepper extracted from black pepper fruits.
Piperine is an alkaloid and the active component of BioPerine. This gives black pepper its spicy flavor. It is similar to capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot.
It would be extremely difficult to get the same amount of piperine by eating black pepper. BioPerine is much higher in piperine than regular table pepper. It is 95% piperine. A paper published by the Institute of Food Technologists® stated that black and white pepper only contains 2% to 8% piperine in comparison.
So the next time you reach for the black pepper, share your wisdom about it at the dinner table! You might surprise your friends and family and help them learn more about this nutritious spice.
