Black Pepper (Pilipili Nyinyo)
Dried berries of a climbing vine - the original 'black gold' that pulled traders across the Indian Ocean to the Swahili coast centuries before cloves arrived.
HOW TO IDENTIFY IT
Wrinkled, spherical berries about 5mm across, hard to the touch, ranging from dark brown to black. Fresh ones have a sharp, pungent bite when cracked and a slightly fruity top note.
CULTURE & KITCHEN
Pepper was the original spice-route currency that made Zanzibar a port of consequence. It still underpins the Swahili masala blends used in curries and grilled fish.