Where does black pepper come from?

Black pepper comes from the pepper plant. Pepper plants produce peppercorns, which are ground up into the black pepper typically used in recipes and as a table spice.

The pepper plant is a vine-type plant that can grow up to 33 feet long. This woody vine typically grows in warm and humid tropical climates. At 3 to 4 years old, the plant begins to produce small clustered flowers, which then produce peppercorn berries. These peppercorns can be ground to make black pepper, a spice that is added to many dishes from around the world. Peppercorns can be ground and stored, or they can be ground just before being added to a dish.