Ingredient Name: White pepper, white peppercorn

Traditional Chinese Name:甘草 (gān cǎo)

What is this?

• The seeds of the pepper plant that are spicy to taste and very small in size (around 1 cm in diameter on average)
• They differ from the black peppercorn in how they are processed
• Often used in light colored foods, though the Chinese use this very often in many dishes, soups, stews
• It is considered to be a warming ingredient

How do I prepare it?

• Rinse quickly in warm water

Where can I buy this?

Peppercorn is available commonly in all supermarkets, although the white peppercorn may be more of a challenge to find

What is the cost

• Extremely affordable

Any benefits?

• It is said to be anti-toxic and helps with digestion
• Helps with circulation
• Stimulates the appetite
• Contains a good amount of antioxidants (helps with anti-aging)

Any precautions?

• Consume with moderation
• Its oils are a potential skin irritant when used in high concentrations

References:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppercorns#White_pepper