Long pepper (Piper longum), sometimes called Indian long pepper, is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. Long pepper has a similar, but hotter, taste to its close relative Piper nigrum - from which black, green and white pepper are obtained. The word pepper itself is derived from the Tamil/Malayalam word for long pepper, pippali.
The fruit of the pepper consists of many minuscule fruits — each about the size of a poppy seed — embedded in the surface of a flower spike that closely resembles a hazel tree catkin. Like Piper nigrum, the fruits contain the alkaloid piperine, which contributes to their pungency. Another species of long pepper, Piper retrofractum, is native to Java, Indonesia. The fruits of this plant are often confused with chili peppers, which belong to the genus Capsicum , originally from the Americas.
History
Long pepper first reference comes from ancient Indian textbooks of Ayurveda, where its medicinal and dietary uses are described in detail. It reached Greece in the sixth or fifth century BCE, though Hippocrates discussed it as a medicament rather than a spice.[4] Among the Greeks and Romans and prior to the European rediscovery of the American Continents, long pepper was an important and well-known spice. The ancient history of black pepper is often interlinked with (and confused with) that of long pepper, though Theophrastus distinguished the two in the first work of botany. The Romans knew of both and often referred to either as just piper; Pliny erroneously believed dried black pepper and long pepper came from the same plant. Round, or black pepper, began to compete with long pepper in Europe from the twelfth century and had displaced it by the fourteenth. The quest for cheaper and more dependable sources of black pepper fueled the Age of Discoveries; only after the discovery of the American Continents and of chili pepper, called by the Spanish pimiento, employing their word for long pepper, did the popularity of long pepper fade away.[5] Chili peppers, some of which, when dried, are similar in shape and taste to long pepper, were easier to grow in a variety of locations more convenient to Europe. Today, long pepper is a rarity in general commerce.
Uses
Today, long pepper is a very rare ingredient in European cuisines, but it can still be found in Indian, and Nepalese vegetable pickles, some North African spice mixtures, and in Indonesian and Malaysian cooking. It is readily available at Indian grocery stores, where it is usually labeled pippali.
Long pepper is known to contain the chemical compound piperlongumine.
| HEIRLOOM ? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Organic Seeds ? | Organic Seeds |
| Edible ? | Edible |
| Life Cycle: | Perennial plant : Yes |
| Suitable for growing in flower pot ? | Suitable for pot: Yes |
| Medicinal Plant ? | Medicinal Plant: Yes |
| Handpicked seeds ? | Handpicked seeds |
We ship worldwide from the European Union via registered mail with delivery confirmation.
To find your tracking number, log in to your account and go to Order History > Details.
Global tracking: 17Track
For tracking numbers like RGxxxxxxHR: Posta.hr tracking
🕒 Note: Tracking information becomes available up to 24 hours after your order is shipped.
Cash on delivery is not available.
Regularly check your spam/junk email folder for notifications.
All inquiries must be submitted via our contact form on the website.
Messages sent via regular email may not be received.
Always include your mobile phone number with international dialing code.
Example for Hungary: +36 20 123 4567
Registered shipments require a signature from the recipient.
We do NOT deliver:
to P.O. boxes
to neighbors
if you are not home to receive the package
📬 If a P.O. box address is provided and the package is lost or undeliverable, it will not be refunded.
If your package is returned to us:
You will be charged €2 for return shipping
You are responsible for reshipping costs as well
If tracking shows the package is still with the sender, it means it is in transit.
Contact your local post office with the tracking number for updates.
We are not a postal service and cannot track your package for you.
We are not responsible for shipping delays.
🔍 We can only start an investigation into a lost shipment 30 days after the dispatch date.
| Type of Delivery | Processing Time | Insured | Possible Delays | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 7–10 business days | ❌ | 7–14 days | Basic shipping option |
| Priority | 1–7 business days | ❌ | 3–10 days | Faster processing, not faster shipping |
| Insured | 1–7 business days | ✅ | 3–10 days | Refund if the package is lost (up to €150) |
🕒 Estimated Delivery Time:
Within the EU: 3–20 days
Worldwide: 5–30 days
Example delivery times to the USA: 27, 22, 19, 17, 13 days
Always include your order reference (e.g., SGS-19811702) in the payment description.
If we cannot match your payment to your order, it may cause delays or cancellation.
Orders are automatically canceled if payment is not received within 7 days.
We accept EUR currency only via PayPal.
Please change your currency to Euro during checkout.
Visit: Exotic Seeds Store
We accept: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, CB, Diners Club, Discover, China UnionPay, JCB, etc.
💡 Buyers are responsible for all transaction fees. Please send us your transaction details so we can process your order promptly.
Orders are not processed or shipped on Saturdays or Sundays.
Always check the Important Notices on our website before placing an order (e.g., holiday schedules, special conditions).
📫 For any questions, please use only the contact form on our website.
Emails sent outside of this form will not be received.
