Cracked and Ground Tellicherry Pepper
Tellicherry peppercorns stay longer on the vine and turn fruit‐sweet before drying, which is why traders sort them into their own size grade named for the Malabar port of Thalassery.
The extra time lets volatile oil rise while piperine tops out, giving warmth that lingers rather than burns.
Many cooks hunt these big berries for both flavour and the much-discussed black pepper benefits , from brighter antioxidant activity to the famous piperine-curcumin duo.
Science and Composition
Chemical Composition
Steam distillation shows essential oil between two and five percent, led by β-caryophyllene, limonene and α-pinene that bring woody, citrus and pine notes.
Piperine averages seven to nine percent by weight, a tick higher than smaller grades .
Nutrition panels list about five calories, 0 .6 g fibre and 0 .61 mg iron per teaspoon
Origin & Nutritional Composition
Smallholder plots along Kerala’s humid Malabar coast supply our organic Tellicherry berries, graded only when fully ripe and 4 .25 mm wide.
Five-gram servings bring roughly three calories plus a light antioxidant lift.
Reported Health Benefits
Scientists link piperine to better nutrient uptake. A landmark human study showed 2000 % more curcumin in blood when paired with black pepper pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Reviews list antioxidant, antimicrobial and gastro-protective roles among recognised black pepper benefits pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Culinary doses are safe, adding flavour while supporting normal inflammatory balance.
Heritage and Function
Cultural Significance & Historical Significance
Pepper from the Malabar coast financed Roman feasts, Venetian palaces and Dutch forts.
Tellicherry, one of the largest size, became a British-era premium fetch that still commands a higher price because it represents only ten percent of each crop
Flavor Profile
Fresh cracks release pine sap, citrus peel and ripe fig before a warm, steady heat.
Fun Tidbits
The name comes from the colonial spelling of Thalassery port on Kerala’s coast.
Only berries above 4 .25 mm earn the Tellicherry tag.
These large berries make up less than ten percent of a typical harvest, keeping supply tight.
Sailors once carried pepper as portable rent money because it was light and valuable.
La Botanique Sacrée's Approach
We buy Tellicherry lots that meet three tests: moisture under twelve percent, piperine above six-point-five percent, and organic certificate in place.
POIVRE BLEU - Four-pepper floral blend where Tellicherry leads over elderflower, baobab, and Persian blue salt.
PEP’RONI - Pepperoni-style pizza topper with smoked salts, sun-dried tomato, and a Tellicherry-cracked finish.
TACO No1 - Chipotle and guajillo taco spice with classic cumin and coriander, finished with Tellicherry snap.
