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

What white pepper etiquette is

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

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

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

What you should know about white pepper

White pepper is a spice used for seasoning. It is obtained from the fruit of the pepper plant. Black and white pepper are obtained from the same plant but at different ripening stages. Black pepper is obtained from unripened peppercorns, while white pepper is from ripened ones.

Etiquette rules to serve and eat white pepper

1) How to store white pepper

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

Keep white pepper in an airtight container. Contact with oxygen and evaporation causes white pepper to lose its aroma. Avoid direct light too, as it has a similar effect. White pepper does not expire, but it deteriorates, turns bitter, and loses aroma faster than black pepper.

2) How to clean white pepper

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

3) How to prepare & cook with white pepper

You can use white pepper in many recipes. Such as soups, pasta, meat, fish, vegetables, or salads. In general, prefer white pepper to black pepper when you need a more delicate aroma. Furthermore, white pepper is less visible, thus it is often a better fit for light-colored dishes, such as fish.

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

Some guests may be particularly sensitive to white 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 white pepper

White pepper is not a necessary seasoning in dining etiquette. You can present it instead of black pepper or serve it to accompany a specific course. If you present white pepper on the dining table, you should pair it with salt.

Place white pepper 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 white pepper grinder for every 6 or 8 guests.

It is best to serve white pepper in grains. Pepper in grains keeps its aroma significantly longer than ground pepper. For the same reason, you should grind white 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 white pepper and other seasonings from the table.

5) Foods & beverages to pair white pepper with

White pepper goes well with many foods and aromas. Such as thyme, paprika, or garlic. It can go well in many pasta recipes, meat, fish, vegetables, soups, or salads.

6) How to eat white pepper

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

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

When white 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.

White 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 white pepper etiquette mistakes. 

• 8/10. Adding white pepper in large quantities to your dish.
• 7/10. Serving too-spiced dishes.

Additional information for properly serving white pepper

How many calories per serving?

White pepper is very low on calories. A teaspoon contains about 7 calories.

How to buy the best white pepper

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

Choose the best

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

Alternatives to white pepper

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

Resources

• Studies on the chemical and flavor qualities of white pepper: researchgate.net