Introduction

Pepper, also referred to as peppercorns, has been used since time immemorial as a spice and medicine and was used as an antiseptic to cure digestive and respiratory ailments. Black, white, red and green are the various types of pepper, and black pepper is the most common.

The first use of black pepper documents to about 2000 BC, in ancient Indian texts. It was exported to other countries such as Egypt and Italy.

Due to the price of pepper, it was considered ‘black gold’ before the discovery of fossil fuels.

The commercial value of pepper fell over the years due to newfound trade. Currently, pepper is the most consumed spice in the world, accounting for 30 -35% of the spice trade and is projected to rise.

As a result, the cost of pepper has increased again due to increased consumption, which affects the market value. For instance, the black pepper market was valued at US$1.83 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach US$2.96 billion in 2029, at a 6.17%increase.