Today, the leaders of the ruling party and the opposition are clashing in the name of political debate on television media. There was a similar trade conflict between famous Indian spicy food products like Karappodi and Pepper Powder. Many people do not believe that peppers, known as ‘black gold’, are a four-thousand-year-old food. Let’s take a closer look at the history of pepper, a native of South India, and its competition with chili powder.
Four thousand years ago, pepper production was high in the area where the state of Kerala is today. Pepper is a flowering plant with the botanical name Piperaceae. Its fruits and pepper were used to add flavor to food. Botanists divided plants into genera such that plants with nuts belong to the fruit category. So pepper is considered as a fruit.
Historians say that the Romans used pepper powder in Italy from the first century. Some European literary texts also contain references to the use of peppermint. Salt and pepper were used in almost all types of food on the European continent. From bread sandwiches to fruit salads to soups to steaks, pepper growing became an essential agricultural activity. Pepper trade, export, and transport began to increase beginning in the third century. A place with abundant pepper production means rich in wealth.
Pepper powder was used not only as food but also for brushing teeth in times of tooth decay. The international export of pepper played an important role in the shipping trade to increase the use of pepper powder in the preparation of various national medicines. Pepper powder has been used to treat many physical ailments like toothache, constipation, insomnia, skin damage caused by sun heat. The wealthy considered it an honor to have a cask of pepper powder on their dining table. Pepper became such a star food that a feast featuring pepper powder would be a luxury feast.
The popularity of chili spread beyond Europe to the Mediterranean countries. In the 19th century, Indian pepper also gained popularity in the international food market along with Indian curry powder prepared with red chillies. The popularity of chili peppers is evidenced by the fact that many food companies are using pepper powder as a healthy spice, while various packets of spicy spices are prepared with turmeric today.
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