Native to India and unrelated to other pepper fruits like cayenne and bell peppers, black pepper was one of the founding foods in the Western Spice Trade. Archeologists have discovered the use of pepper going back to at least 1000 BCE.  A vining plant, black, green, and red peppercorns all come from the same plant. 

 

Rich in vitamin C, black pepper is often paired with turmeric for those trying to reduce inflammation. This is because compounds in pepper aid in curcumin absorption. Used as an essential oil, black pepper improves blood flow and helps reduce pain and inflammation. 

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