News and information from Gloucester and Matthews, Virginia

Thursday, November 18, 2021 LXXXIV, no. 46 New Series

Today, black pepper is an indispensable spice in every kitchen. It is the most commonly used spice in the world (salt is a mineral, not a spice). Black pepper originated in a city near Kerala in southern India, where it is often called "black gold" and is very important as a traditional medicine. Pepper was found in the nostrils of Pharaoh Ramses II.

Black pepper has become a common household condiment, and it has gone through an interesting and fascinating journey to achieve today's ease of use: reach out for a cocktail shaker, and it's there.

Signs of the ancient pepper trade from India to Egypt were discovered. By 40 AD, the Romans flourished in the spice trade including pepper. Over the next few hundred years, the popularity and value of black pepper skyrocketed. As part of ceasefire negotiations, Rome paid 3,000 pounds of pepper before it fell.

The Arabs then took over the spice trade, and by the Middle Ages, many other groups joined the lucrative trade. By the end of the year...

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News and information from Gloucester and Matthews, Virginia

Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal PO Box 2060 Gloucester, Va. 23061 Tel: 804-693-3101 Fax: 804-693-7844 Email: info@gazettejournal.net

Actual address: 6625 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061

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