Black Pepper

Last weekend we went to Kokan at my in law's house. Every time when I visit Kokan I experience something new and interesting. Kokan is popular for its scenic beauty and is rich with flora and fauna. One morning, my mother in law, pointed to a plant and said we need to pluck the pepper. I was surprised! It was the first time I was going to experience harvesting of the most valuable spice in the world.

Once upon a time pepper was as valuable as gold. Traders from southern Arabia controlled the spice trade and pepper routes, enjoying a huge monopoly over an increasingly profitable business. While Italian city-states like Venice and Genoa held a monopoly on shipping lines once the spice reached the Mediterranean. Arab traders didn't open their secret source which was, of course, India, of black pepper. It's so valuable that it was used as currency and has been used to pay taxes, dowries, and even ransoms. Even today, the Dutch phrase “pepper expensive” refers to an item of prohibitive cost. Workers who used to handle pepper were issued clothes without pockets or cuffs to prevent theft. It was the most luxurious item in Europe. So Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, Sir Francis Drake, and other explorers started hunting for the source of the spice. Christopher Columbus was disappointed that he did not find the "Spice Islands".

Romans were so fond of this. But only rich Romans used to afford it. They found out the secret source of this pepper which was, of course, India which is still the world’s top producer of pepper followed by Indonesia. These two countries produce more than half the pepper consumed around the world. Vietnam is the only country whose production has been rising during the past 10 years while other producing countries witnessed either a fall or stagnation in output.  Countries like America, Canada, Russia, and Japan prefer Indian black pepper. Americans are the world’s largest pepper consumers followed by Singapore and Germany.

For Indians and especially people from coastal belts like Kokan; a pepper is always available. Many authentic, popular Kokan recipes have black pepper as the main ingredient. Pepper powder enriches fruit juices and makes it very tasty, it nullifies Kapha dominant effect of sweet fruits. Sprinkle over soups or add it to veg smoothies, sabji, etc increases the taste.  Adding a pinch of black pepper to every meal helps to improve both taste, digestion and improves your overall health.

Ayurveda considers black pepper as an important healing spice. It removes toxins conditions, heals, stimulates organs. It is also used as an antidote in insect bites.  It gives health benefits from the brain to your toes muscles and from hair to skin. It is a rich source of magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium, vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D and K, and dietary fiber. Black pepper is also a very good anti-inflammatory agent.

I have followed and enjoyed the process of making black pepper which is followed in Konkan since ancient times. I have enjoyed my first pepper harvesting experience followed by its makers. So sharing the experience as below;

1. The pepper plant is a vine and generally planted next to a tall tree to get support.
2. Pepper fruits is bunch of berries just like grapes.
3. The best harvesting season is winter. In "Poush maas" the harvesting is supposed to be done. i.e. around Makar Sankranti .
4. These are supposed to pick when they are green.
   
5.  There are numerous types of pepper. All these types are derived from the same plant. I was under impression that there are different species for all these different types, like Jasmine which was wrong.
1. Green Pepper - Originally all peppers use to be green i.e. unripe and unprocessed. Canning is done or it can also be stored in Vinegar to store these peepers to retain its green color.
2. Orange Pepper - When pepper starts ripping it becomes orange. It can be stored in Vinegar or brine.
3. Red Pepper - If it's not plucked when it was orange too then it rips completely and turns red. Like orange pepper, these can be also stored in Vinegar or brine. Or can also with some drying technique to preserve its color.
4. White pepper - Fully ripe red pepper berries are soaked in water for about a week, during which the flesh of the pepper softens and decomposes. Rubbing then removes what remains of the fruit, and the naked seed is dried. Sometimes alternative processes are used for removing the outer pepper from the seed. Ground white pepper is used in Chinese and Thai cuisine. It's also used to make Papad in Maharashtra.
5. Black Pepper - Most famous and most authentic. Best in taste and nutrition values. I witnessed the making of black pepper last month and details of the process is below. 
•  Like grapes pick the bunches of pepper berries.
  
•  Pour boiling water on these green berries. Keep berries in a strainer so that the boiled water will drain out. Typically these strainers are made of bamboo which is easily available in Kokan.
  
  
• Cover the pepper with the cotton cloth to keep the berries warm for a while. It will slowly start changing its color.
  
  
  
  
• Spread it on a cloth to dry under the Sun. It will change color in a day from green to black
  
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• Dry for 5-6 days so that it can be stored for years.
  
• Remove stems, peduncles from the bunch. Store it in a jar.
  

I enjoyed my first experience of black pepper making.  In my next blog; I will write some authentic and popular recipes using black Pepper. I hope you enjoyed reading :). Please share your valuable feedback in the comments.

 

 

 

Priti

Priti is my childhood friend. In-fact only childhood friend with whom I am regular in touch. And our friendship blossomed as we grew up.

Priti used to stay in the same lane where our rented house was. Her father's grocery store was next to my door. Being the only girl of my age in the entire lane, she soon became my close friend. We used to play by 'Jabali' , a round flat stone which is supposed to move by feet from one to another house arranged on the floor. Majority time we played together.  We played with dolls, chess, ludo, tennis, snake, and ladders etc.  We were in same school so used to go together and chat long hours with teachers and school friends. She introduced me typical feminine arts like "Mehandi","Cloth painting". We even joined classes about same. I enjoyed her company in high school and our friendship bond became stronger than before.
She was very confident. She learned bike (‘Luna’) in our early school days. She learned cooking very fast especially when friends like me was not aware of basics of it. I remember she used to cook for her entire family when she was only in 6th or 7th std. These days have flown very fast, she finished school and joined Arts College. Priti won many elocution competitions while doing B.A.- English. She started looking after her father's grocery store side by side here college days. She used to manage their store single handed while her father was away for any reason.
She chose to become a lawyer after graduation. But the path was not that easy as Law College was not present in our town. She has to take 2 buses to reach her college. Everything was going absolutely fine. She was enjoying her new college, new friends, new environment, regular studies, etc.
On another side I went to Pune for my college, however, I used to meet her whenever I used to visit my hometown. We enjoyed few hangouts, watching movies and street food. One fine day I noticed she fell down while walking on the road. I felt it’s common like any other person but it became frequent and I used to scold her for her carelessness and ignorance. That time I was more worried that people stare at us weirdly. This has repeated couples of times during each hang out in a couple of my visits which made me uncomfortable. It was quite surprised when I started analyzing that there was no single reason because of which she can fell down. Even on the plain surface this started happening even if there was no single pebble or any barrier or any traffic, on the road she used to fall down. After few days I observed she is walking weirdly. I told her about it. She was also not sure about what’s wrong.
Meanwhile, her college days were flying fast and her first term of Law College went very well. She became the favorite student of almost all teachers in the college. But suddenly she found difficulty in boarding the public bus. She went to the doctor but nothing concrete came out. She started taking physiotherapy as one of the suggestion.  
Parents started visiting many doctors. Lot of tests, medicines, suggestions, hospitals, therapies was on the card.  Finally one of the doctors (neurosurgeon) concluded that its ‘Muscular dystrophy’.
A muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.
Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue

The signs and symptoms consistent with muscular dystrophy are the following:

• Progressive muscular wasting
• Poor balance
• Drooping eyelids
• Atrophy
• Scoliosis (curvature of the spine and the back)
• Inability to walk
• Frequent falls

As of 2016, there is no specific treatment or cure for muscular dystrophy. However, physiotherapy, aerobic exercise, yoga, low-intensity catabolic steroids can help to maintain muscle tone. On the other hand, nutrient supplements such as  Vitamin D3, calcium, whey protein, glutamine, meat, almond etc. may help to prevent contractures. However, recombinant DNA therapy approaches are currently being investigated.
Her father took her to India’s best neurosurgeons at Bangalore and Mumbai. But there are no medicines. He also took her to best homeopathy doctors in Pune. Allopathic, homeopathy, naturopathy and even Ayurveda didn’t give any results. He even took her Ramdev Baba’s Yoga camp.
Her mother went each suggested temple. Showed her Kundali to every astrologer she came across. She followed each astrologer in the hope that there will be some miracle one day. But miracles only happen in fairy tales.
Priti was not able to travel to college. Despite her low attendance college gave her permission to attend exams. All these distractions, frustrations, problems didn’t stop Priti. She passed with flying colors. She took admission for Master’s program in the University.
Wheelchair became her friend. She used to travel by car to the university, only for submissions and exams. University authorities kindly allowed her for the same. And again Priti stood second in university for L.L.M.
Priti got Presidential best student award in 2006 and Chancellor Award in 2007.
She got a job in the same university. She started living in the university quarters independently with a maid.  She arranged seminars on Law in the university campus. She started many events in the interest of the students. No wonder she became favorite teacher among the students.
Few times I visited her quarters too. And found many students visit her at home for their doubts and Priti never disappointed any. All the time she used to be occupied with students or activity planning for them. Day by day it became more difficult for Priti to manage herself.  Her hands also stopped working efficiently. She was not able to hold any heavy thing in her hands. Neither could raise her hands. She was not able to sit in the wheelchair with the help of the female maid.
Her younger brother started staying with her in the University quarters. He became real helping hand to her. He used to make Priti sit in the wheelchair to go to deliver her lectures in the university classrooms.  
With all these difficulties Priti cleared CET- NET exams in the first attempt. She also geared up for Ph.D. in the law. She was working on law provision in various countries for the handicapped. Initial research was done but she has to return back to her home from the University.
Back at home, she didn’t sit crying neither complained about her situation. She is always in search of what she can do the best to come out of the situation. She is the ideal for all those who blame for every second thing for others or the destiny.
She started law classes. It is again a good success. Her students visit her even after completing their courses. They share their personal problem with her too. And Priti, though she is facing so many issues, make them feel better, helps them to fight with their problems.
Now Priti can’t even hold the pen. Now computer, internet, and smartphone are her best friends and companions.
Priti writes for few newspapers or magazines. She helps her brother in law matters, helps her father for managing his accounts in the computer. She is very techno-friendly. She manages her as well as entire family’s accounts by Net banking. She never complains or even talks about her physical condition. She hates any sympathy if anyone pours to her.
Even today when I visit her home she will welcome me with her big smile. We talk about new books, current movies. Her problems never appear on her face.
Whenever I admire her fight, she gives credit to her parents as well as her close friends. “They try to keep the overall environment very happy and delightful. They try to help me best. They also accepted the situation and fighting with me. If they might have been always cursing the fate or been always being sad or crying I might not be been that strong that I am today”.
She enjoys each day of her life. She plays video games, writes, reads, listen to music, watches Television, does online shopping and talks with her friends with full enthusiasm.
She is one of the real inspirations to me and to all of us. I wish her all luck in her fight.