Black Peppercorns are the dried, unripe fruit of Piper nigrum, one of the world’s most significant spice plants. The bite of pepper is part of what makes it so prized, and this unique pungency comes from a naturally occurring chemical in the skin called piperine. When exposed to the elements (air, heat, water), piperine can break down. TJ's Black Peppercorns come whole and packaged in their own Grinder, which is a benefit to maintaining freshness, along with a culinary convenience. Remove the cap, turn the jar upside down and twist to get pure, piquant flecks of black pepper. Or you can screw off the cap if you need to add some whole peppercorns to your pot. To add depth and vibrancy to flavors, grind our Black Peppercorns over eggs, steak, mashed potatoes, pasta, soup, sprouts, freshly sliced tomatoes, strawberries...you get the picture.