PIMIENTA NEGRA
Piper nigrum
La pimienta negra es una planta trepadora con flores originaria del sur de Asia. Los granos de pimienta son los frutos secos de la planta. Su origen se remonta al año 2000 a. E. C., en la costa de Malabar, en el sur de la India (actual Kerala, India). La pimienta negra es una especia básica en la cocina india, incluso en el garam masala. La pimienta negra se comercializaba en la Ruta de la Seda, que la llevó a pueblos por fuera del sudeste asiático.
Hoy en día, la pimienta negra es la especia más comercializada del mundo y representa el 20 por ciento del comercio mundial de especias. Vietnam es su mayor productor.
¿Sabía que la pimienta negra solía ser tan valiosa como el oro?
En la Europa medieval era un artículo de lujo muy solicitado. La pimienta negra se utilizaba como moneda para pagar la renta e impuestos, lo que dio origen al término “renta de pimienta”.
Creado por Kaila Balch mediante el Programa de Equidad a través de Historias de Duke Gardens. Kaila se graduó en 2023 con una maestría en ciencias en salud global de la Graduate School y el Global Health Institute de Duke University.
BLACK PEPPER
Piper nigrum
Black pepper is a flowering vine native to South Asia. Peppercorns are the dried fruits of the plant. It has been traced back as early as 2000 BCE to the Malabar Coast of southern Indian (present day Kerala, India). Black pepper is a staple spice in Indian cooking, including in garam masala. Black pepper was traded on the silk road, which brought it to people outside of Southeast Asia.
Today, black pepper is the world’s most traded spice and accounts for 20 percent of the global spice trade. Vietnam is its largest producer.
Did you know black pepper used to be as valuable as gold?
In medieval Europe, it was a sought after luxury item. Black pepper was used as currency for rent and to pay taxes, giving birth to the term “peppercorn rent.”
Created by Kaila Balch through Duke Gardens’ Equity Through Stories Program. Kaila is a 2023 graduate with a master of science in global health from Duke University’s Graduate School and Global Health Institute.
Why is this sign in Spanish?
Visitors to Duke Gardens speak many different languages. English and Spanish are two of the most common primary languages in our area today.
Reading a sign is generally an easier way to get information in the garden than scanning a QR code to go to a website for a translation, as you might have noticed! When our signs can only be printed in one language due to size constraints, we vary which language is on the sign and which is on the website so that both English and Spanish speakers have the opportunity to read signs in person.