🧂🌿 White Pepper Production | සුදු ගම්මිරිස් නිෂ්පාදනය

🧂🌿 White Pepper Production | සුදු ගම්මිරිස් නිෂ්පාදනය

🧂 White Pepper

White pepper can be identified as pepper prepared by removing the outer skin (pericarp) of the mature pepper berries and then drying them. The main chemical compound found in pepper is known as Piperine. It has a milder flavor compared to black pepper and is often preferred in light-colored dishes such as soups, sauces, and processed meats where appearance is important.

💡 Importance of White Pepper Processing

★ Maintaining the purity of the chemical substances obtained from pepper.

★ Preserving the appearance in food preparation.

★ Required for high-quality pepper oil production.

★ Increasing the export value.

⚙️ White Pepper Production Process

✅ Harvesting at the Correct Maturity Stage:

👉 Pepper berries should be harvested when they are fully mature and very close to ripening or at the beginning of the ripening stage.

👉 Harvesting is most suitable when the top two or three berries on a pepper spike have ripened.

🧺 Separating Pepper Berries:

👉 The harvested pepper spikes are kept in an open container for 12 to 24 hours, after which the berries are separated manually or using a machine.

🏗️ Seed Selection and Grading:

👉 First, empty seeds and stalk parts of the pepper berries should be removed, and then the pepper berries are separated.

👉 Afterward, small berries are removed, and only the large pepper berries are separated.

👉 A sieve with number 05 or a Green berry sorter can be used for this purpose.

🌬️ Cleaning and Winnowing:

👉 Winnowing is done to remove impurities present with the pepper berries.

👉 The cleaned pepper berries are then spread on mats for drying.

💧 Soaking Pepper Berries:

Soaking the pepper berries is done to facilitate the removal of the outer skin. This can be done in two ways:

👉 Place the separated and cleaned pepper berries in cloth or gunny bags and submerge them in flowing water for about five days.

👉 Place the separated and cleaned pepper berries in large containers or tanks and fill them with water until the pepper is covered for about five days. It is especially important to change the water every day. Half of the water in the tank can be removed and replaced with clean, fresh water daily.

🔧 Removing the Outer Skin of Pepper Berries:

The soaked pepper berries are rubbed in a sieve or a pepper decorticator is used to remove the outer skin of the pepper berries.

🍋 Soaking in Citric Acid:

★ Soaking the peeled pepper in a 2% citric acid solution for about one hour can yield white pepper with a more intense white color.

★ The white color can be further enhanced by wiping the pepper with a soft cloth afterward.

☀️ Washing and Drying:

★ The pepper is washed with clean water until the acid is removed and then dried using direct sunlight or a solar dryer.

★ The drying temperature is maintained between 55°C - 60°C to avoid over-drying or microbial growth.

📦 Packaging:

★ The dried white pepper should be packaged and sealed in water-resistant polythene bags according to the required weight.

★ Vacuum-sealed packs are used for long-distance exports to preserve aroma and prevent moisture ingress.

🌿 Value-Added Products from White Pepper

White Pepper Powder

★ Finely ground white pepper used in cooking, especially in soups, sauces, and sausages.

White Pepper Oil

★ Extracted through steam distillation; used in food flavoring, cosmetics, and aromatherapy.

White Pepper Oleoresin

★ Concentrated extract with both volatile oils and non-volatile components; used in food processing and pharmaceuticals.

Flavored Pepper Blends

★ White pepper mixed with herbs and spices (e.g., garlic, lemon zest, ginger) for gourmet seasoning.

Capsules or Tablets (Nutraceuticals)

★ Used in health supplements for digestion, metabolism, and anti-inflammatory properties due to piperine.

Ready-to-Use Spice Mixes

★ Packaged curry powders, soup mixes, or instant noodle seasonings with white pepper base.

White Pepper Marinade Paste

★ Processed with oil, garlic, and vinegar for meat and seafood seasoning.

Essential Oil-Infused Products

★ Soaps, balms, or massage oils with white pepper essential oil for muscle relief.

White Pepper Tea / Herbal Blends

★ White pepper blended with ginger, cinnamon, or turmeric for therapeutic teas.

Export-Grade Vacuum-Packed Whole White Pepper

★ Premium-quality, moisture-free packaging for international gourmet markets.

📈 Market and Export Value:

👉 White pepper has a higher export value than black pepper.

👉 Key export markets include Europe, the USA, Japan, and Middle Eastern countries.

👉 Sri Lanka's white pepper is renowned for its high piperine content and distinct aroma.

Let’s meet at 'Black Pepper vs White Pepper' — dive deeper into the unique properties and uses of these two essential spices!