What is Black pepper?
{{Taxobox | name = Black pepper | image =Piper_nigrum_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-107.jpg | image_width = 210px | image_caption = Pepper plant with immature peppercorns | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Piperales]] | familia = [[Piperaceae]] | genus = ''[[Piper (genus)|Piper]]'' | species = '''''P. nigrum''''' | binomial = ''Piper nigrum'' | binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?28589 |title = Piper nigrum information from NPGS/GRIN |publisher = www.ars-grin.gov |accessdate = 2 March 2008 |archive-date = 23 December 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081223223227/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?28589 |url-status = dead }}</ref> }} '''Black pepper''' is a [[plant]] that grows in the [[tropics]], especially in [[India]]. The plant is a [[perennial]] [[vine]] that bears flowers. People cultivate the plant for its [[fruit]], the peppercorn. The peppercorn can be used as a [[spice]] or [[condiment]]. Usually, it makes things hot. There are several different plants called ''Pepper'', all are in the ''Piper'' genus of ''Piperaceae''. From the [[16th century]] onwards, people used the word ''pepper'' to also refer to the [[Chili pepper]]s, which come from a completely unrelated plant. It was also called black gold in older times. ==Culinary uses== Pepper is one of the most common spices used around the world. It is very common in European cuisine, and has been known and traded for a very long time. Very often, the peppercorns are ground, and the powder is used to make things taste hot. They get their heat from a chemical called piperine unlike other peppers that get it from [[capsaicin]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-09-01|title=Black pepper primer - Article|url=https://www.finecooking.com/article/black-pepper-primer|access-date=2021-04-20|website=FineCooking|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/