The crucial etiquette rules on how to serve and eat black pepper. Tips to be the ideal host or the perfect guest at the dining table.

What black pepper etiquette is

Black pepper etiquette is the set of rules to properly serve and eat black pepper. Such rules help avoid behaviors that may disrespect your hosts or guests, or make you look unpolite.

If you are hosting, follow black pepper etiquette to serve it to your guests appropriately.

As a guest, respect black pepper etiquette rules to properly use it at the dining table and avoid offending your hosts.

What you should know about black pepper

Black pepper is a spice used for seasoning. It is obtained from the fruit of the pepper plant. Black pepper is one of the essential food seasonings in cooking and dining etiquette.

There are several varieties of black pepper. They usually differ in the shape of the peppercorn and aroma. White pepper and green pepper are not different varieties. Instead, they are obtained from the same plant at a different ripening stage or through a different process.

Etiquette rules to serve and eat black pepper

1) How to store black pepper

Store black pepper at room temperature and in a dry place. Humidity spoils black pepper. Thus, do not store it in the fridge or freezer.

Keep black pepper in an airtight container. Contact with oxygen and evaporation causes black pepper to lose its aroma. Avoid direct light too, as it has a similar effect.

2) How to clean black pepper

You do not need to wash or clean black peppercorns. Water risks spoiling the aroma. The best way to avoid impurities is to purchase black pepper from trusted sources or brands.

3) How to prepare & cook with black pepper

You can use black pepper in many recipes. Such as soups, pasta, meat, or salads.

However, it is good etiquette to limit black pepper when cooking. As a host, it is preferable to serve mildly spiced dishes and let guests add black pepper to their liking.

Some guests may be particularly sensitive to black pepper. Others may even avoid it for health reasons, such as intolerance or allergy. Before hosting a meal, it is considerate to ask your guests whether they have some dietary restrictions.

4) How to serve & present black pepper

Black pepper is an almost necessary seasoning in dining etiquette. If you present black pepper on the table, you should pair it with salt.

As a host, it is polite to place black pepper when setting the table. Place it at the center of the table, next to salt, so it is easily accessible to most or all guests. If you are hosting a large party, serve one black pepper grinder for every 6 or 8 guests.

It is best to serve black pepper in grains. Pepper in grains keeps its aroma significantly longer than ground pepper. For the same reason, you should grind black pepper immediately before serving or eating a dish.

At the end of the meal, before serving a cheese course, fruit, or dessert, it is polite to remove black pepper and other seasonings from the table.

5) Foods & beverages to pair black pepper with

Black pepper goes well with many foods and aromas. It pairs well with many pasta recipes, meat, soups, or salads. Black pepper can go well with tuna too. Other fish usually pairs better with white pepper, which has a more delicate aroma.

You can add black pepper even to desserts or cocktails, such as Bloody Mary. For a wine pairing, a popular option is Shiraz, which is a red wine with distinctive black pepper notes.

6) How to eat black pepper

The best guest etiquette is to avoid adding black pepper to a dish. In general, adding seasoning to a dish risks disrespecting your host. Adding black pepper can signal that you dislike the flavor, or that the dish could have been prepared better. Thus, if you add black pepper to a dish, add it in small quantities.

The most polite way to add black pepper is by grinding it directly on the food. Apply it in 2 or 3 grinds maximum. Never add black pepper to food on a shared dish.

When black peppercorns are served whole in a dish, you should eat them. If you dislike them, it is polite to discard them on a side of your dish. However, it is polite to still make an effort and try to eat some.

Black pepper etiquette: the worst mistakes

The Rude Index identifies and ranks negative behaviors. 

A high score (8-10) means that the behavior has the potential to trigger a conflict with others. A medium score (4-7) means that the behavior risks making you look inelegant and unsophisticated. Read more about the Rude Index and its methodology here.  

Avoid the worst black pepper etiquette mistakes. 

• 8/10. Adding black pepper in large quantities to your dish.
• 7/10. Serving too-spiced dishes.
• 3/10. Not placing black pepper on the dining table.
• 3/10. Not removing black pepper from the table before serving a cheese course, fruit, or dessert.

Additional information for properly serving black pepper

How many calories per serving?

Black pepper is very low on calories. A teaspoon contains about 6 calories.

How to buy the best black pepper

A crucial factor in black pepper etiquette is to serve the best product possible to your guests.

Choose the best

Common black pepper is undifferentiated. However, it is best to buy it from reputable brands. When improperly processed, black pepper can contain impurities or lose its aroma. Furthermore, low-quality traders can mix black pepper with cheaper substitutes. If possible, choose black pepper in grains as frauds are more common with ground pepper.

Alternatives to black pepper

The most common substitutes for black pepper are similar spices or seasonings. Such as white, green, pink, or Sichuan peppers.

FAQs

What is the difference between black and white pepper? Black and white pepper come from the same plant. Black pepper is obtained from cooked and unripe peppercorns, and white pepper from cooked and ripe peppercorns.

What is the difference between black and green pepper? Black and green pepper come from the same plant. Black pepper is obtained from cooked and unripe peppercorns, and green pepper from uncooked and unripe peppercorns.

Resources

• Black pepper and health claims: a comprehensive treatise: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov