Often referred to as the “king of spices,â it comes from the dried, unripe fruit of the native Indian plant Piper nigrum. Both whole black peppercorns and ground black pepper are commonly used in cooking.
In addition to adding flavor to foods, pepper may act as an antioxidant and offer a variety of health benefits.
It is now the second most popular spice, after pepper, in the United States and Europe.
As a spice, cinnamon is available in powder form or whole, as pieces of bark. People can also use cinnamon essential oil and supplements.
Star anise has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years and has also been accepted into some Western medicine practices more recently.
Its rise in popularity is largely driven by its antimicrobial properties and pharmacological potential.
