Photo Gallery

Color illustration of a pepper plant (Capsicum annuum L.). This spice, native to South and Central America, is now cultivated in most tropical countries, particularly in Indonesia. In more temperate regions, such as Southern Europe, however, the cultivation of the milder vegetable variety known as bell pepper has gained greater importance. Plaque: Geneva Conservatory and Botanical Garden – 1990

The photo shows ripe, red chili peppers (Capsicum annuum variety), which are commonly sold under the names “peperoni” or “cayenne.” These elongated peppers typically have a moderate to strong heat level. They are excellent for fresh salsas, hot sauces, stir-fry dishes, or for drying to make homemade chili powder. Red chili peppers are rich in vitamins A and C. The active ingredient capsaicin not only provides the heat but also boosts the metabolism. - 1990

A large quantity of fresh green chili peppers. These peppers are characterized by their slender, elongated shape and intense heat. - 1990

Freshly harvested chili peppers at various stages of ripeness. – 1990

Like all chili peppers worldwide, these varieties originated in Central and South America. Archaeological findings show that indigenous peoples in regions of present-day Mexico and Brazil were already using and cultivating wild varieties of this plant thousands of years ago. It wasn’t until the 15th and 16th centuries that Spanish and Portuguese sailors brought the hot peppers to Europe, Africa, and Asia, where they quickly became a staple of local cuisines. – 1990

At the market in Jodhpur, local farmers sell their own produce, including red chili peppers and eggplants. – 1990

Color chart of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), the most important species of the genus Piper in the pepper family. The genus Piper comprises about two thousand species, only a few of which are used as spices. Plaque: Geneva Conservatory and Botanical Garden – 1990

Black peppercorns (Piper nigrum). These are the dried, unripe fruits of the pepper plant. During the sun-drying process, the outer skin shrinks and turns dark brown to black. – 1990

The fruits and leaves of the true pepper plant (Piper nigrum). Depending on the time of harvest and processing method, this tropical vine yields the familiar black, green, white, and red peppercorns. Green pepper: Harvested unripe and either pickled fresh or quickly dried. Black pepper: Also harvested green, but ferments during slow drying in the sun, causing the skin to wrinkle and turn black. - 1990

The berries have changed color from green to yellow to red and are practically ripe. Each berry contains a single peppercorn. The deep-green, lanceolate leaves are alternate, and the winged stem encircles the strongly branched shoot. White pepper: Fully ripe, red berries are harvested for this. After soaking in water, the outer pulp is removed, leaving only the light-colored seed. - 1990

Pepper harvest in the Cardamom Hills near Thekkadi, a small town in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. The slopes of these hills are sparsely covered with deciduous trees, whose trunks are enveloped by the dense foliage of the pepper bushes. Pepper is a climbing plant that—much like wild grapevines or ivy—grows upward on trees and rock faces using its tough, supple tendrils and adhesive aerial roots. To harvest the long clusters of pepper berries, the picker uses a sturdy bamboo pole—on which he has trimmed the side shoots to the width of a step—as a ladder. – 1990

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is produced by harvesting the unripe, green berries of the pepper bush and then drying them. During the drying process, the berries ferment, shrivel, and take on their characteristic dark brown to black color. The spice’s typical, pungent flavor comes from the alkaloid piperine it contains. – 1990