Tuesday 27 January 2015

NEAR DISASTER ...... WHAT IS PEPPER ?

What is pepper ?

Pepper ( piper nigrum )
It is  a dried, berry like fruit from a climbing vine plant native to Asia.
Black and white peppers come from the same plant
Green peppercorns are unripe peppers sold pickled in vinegar or brine.
Black peppers are picked before they are fully ripe , dried and left to blacken and wrinkle , they have a strong aromatic taste .
White pepper is allowed to fully ripen before harvest when the dark outer husk is removed , leaving a smooth ,creamy , white kernel with a milder flavour.
Pepper is the world`s most commonly used seasoning for savoury dishes .

Capsicums .....
Capsicums are not peppers , but commonly called bell pepper or sweet pepper

Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper is not pepper , but is a product made from various forms of dried red chillies .

Chilli
Chilli is not pepper ..( capsicum annum and capsicum frutescens ) commonly called hot peppers , they are members of the capsicum family.

So you can understand my alarm when at a recent function I was asked what foods were without pepper ...?
I had been told there was a guest with a pepper allergy so omitted the seasoning in  cooking  the food .
During service the person approached me to ask what food was without pepper .
I explained no pepper had been used , but she pointed out in one of the courses there was green and yellow peppers on the plate !!!!!!!!
The guest  was allergic to capsicums not peppers  .

 

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