Black Pepper is a the dried, unripe fruit of piper nigrum L. Black pepper is generally ground in India, Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia. The round, wrinkle, brownish-black berries have a penetrating, aromatic aroma and pungent, hot, biting flavor. 16oz Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, known as a peppercorn, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. When fresh and fully mature, it is about 5 mm (0.20in) in diameter and dark red, and contains a single seed, like all drupes.