Black pepper is a dried fruit of the vine Piper nigrum. The same vine produces black, white, green, and red pepper. The time it is harvested and the processing determine the color. Pepper is dried and sold either as whole peppercorns or as ground. For best flavor, opt for the whole peppercorn variety and grind it fresh.
Black pepper is harvested from the vine just when the fruit begins to ripen and change color from green to yellow, orange or red. The fruits are left on the spike and wilted or dried, before boiling and then fully dried.