Pepper is collected by picking the berries directly from the vine where they grow.
Harvesting black pepper (Piper nigrum) involves gathering the small, round fruits, often called peppercorns, before they are fully ripe. The specific method can vary, but the fundamental step is removing the berries from the plant.
The Collection Process
According to traditional methods and common practice, the collection of pepper berries typically follows these steps:
- Picking from the Vine: The primary step in collecting pepper is picking the berries. This is done manually from the climbing vines. The berries are usually harvested when they are green or just beginning to turn red.
- Traditional Stem Breaking: The reference notes that this is traditionally done by stepping on them to break the stem from the fruit. This suggests a method where harvested clusters might be processed to separate the berries from the vine structure.
After the initial collection, the berries undergo further processing steps to become the black, white, green, or red peppercorns we know. The reference specifically mentions:
- Drying: The berries are dried in the sun to produce black peppercorns. As they dry, the outer skin darkens and shrivels.
- Soaking: For white peppercorns, the berries are typically soaked in water. This process allows the outer layer of the berry to soften and be removed, leaving only the inner seed.
So, while the collection focuses on picking the berries from the vine, the subsequent processing steps like drying or soaking are crucial in determining the final type of peppercorn.
Understanding the collection method highlights the labor-intensive nature of traditional pepper harvesting, ensuring the quality of the berries before they are transformed into various forms of pepper.
