Typically when you think of pepper, the black specks come to mind. But did you know you can also get white, green, and pink peppercorn, with white being one of the most common? White pepper comes from the same plant as black pepper, but there are some differences. So, how do they differ and which should you cook with?
White Pepper
Like black pepper, white pepper is made from the berries of the pepper plant. But white pepper comes from berries that are picked at full ripeness and that are soaked in water to ferment. The outer layer is removed, leaving only the inner seed. Because the skin is removed, white pepper is usually milder than black pepper. In some dishes, it’s used because it’s more visually appealing than black pepper.
Black Pepper
Black pepper comes from unripe berries from the pepper plant that are dried, which causes the skin to blacken. Black pepper is spicier with more heat than white pepper.
How to Use White Pepper
White pepper is ideal over black pepper if you want flavor from the pepper without the heat or color of black pepper. Just keep in mind that white pepper is milder and it may affect the flavor of your dish.
