White Pepper Muntok
(Piper Nigrum)
White pepper Muntok is the best known and popular on the Italian and worldwide market. It is produced in the island of Bangka, in Java Sea near the southeastern coast of Sumatra and Borneo. Commercial brands which can be found on the international market are:
- White pepper Muntok FAQ
- Muntok “Double Washed”
- Muntok the HPS (Hand Picked Selected).
The differences between one brand and another are the percentage of black berries and grain size, larger in most valuable grains (i.e. the last two mentioned). Compared to the past the quality and selection of product of Indonesian origin has worsened significantly, and that nothing has been done by local producers and exporters to try to improve the cleaning process of white pepper, for example by using mechanical equipment.
The indonesian white pepper is particularly appreciated by some salami producer for its unique aroma of “manure” (Cowshed-like)- sometimes considered unpleasant-, although once mixed with meat it takes on a different fragrance.It turns yellow when ground.
Like any other brand, white pepper from Indonesia to Europe must necessarily get a cleaning process to remove natural impurities , such as sticks, stones, plant fibers and plastics, peels and more. To learn more see: cleaning of seeds.
