Pink pepper

Pink pepper, also called Pink berries or Bourbon pepper, is the fruit of the species Schinus Molle. Pink pepper originates from South America, and was introduced to Mauritius Island in the 19th century. Pink pepper is considered a false pepper. Indeed, it cannot claim the title of pepper, as it is not part of the Peper Negrum family. Nevertheless, pink pepper has a distinctly peppery taste, both warm and spicy.

The use of pink pepper

Pink pepper is mainly used in cooking. It pairs well with a great many dishes and combines perfectly with fish, prawns, scallops, white meat, grilled dishes, salads, and even sauces. Pink pepper also has numerous health benefits and is used in herbal medicine to relieve high blood pressure, digestive issues, coughing, and seasonal ailments. Pink pepper is also used in perfumery, belonging to the large spices family and to the “Oriental” olfactory family. Distillation of the berries yields an essential oil, but it is also possible to carry out a CO2 extraction.

Pink pepper and its various olfactory pairings

The use of pink pepper is an alternative to black pepper, which is more spicy and less sweet. Like its olfactory family, pink pepper is heavily featured in oriental compositions, as in Allure Sensuelle (oriental-floral) by Chanel, where pink pepper is positioned as a top note alongside mandarin and bergamot, for a fresher effect. It is also found in the very famous Angel, l’Eau de toilette by Thierry Mugler (oriental-spicy), where pink berries appear as a top note, again paired with bergamot. Pink pepper is also discovered at the heart of citrus fragrances, as in Spicebomb Fresh by Viktor & Rolf, where pink pepper sits as a top note alongside black pepper, for an ultra powerful cocktail. Pink pepper can also be found within woody perfumes such as Amor Sunshine pour Homme by Cacharel, or Venetian Bergamot Eau de parfum by Tom Ford. Pink pepper can also be found at the heart of magnificent floral perfumes, as in Aqua Allégoria - Tiaré Mimosa by Guerlain.

Pink pepper, even though it does not hold the title of pepper, is as appreciated by our taste buds as by our sense of smell. Also called “pink berries”, pink pepper is widely used in perfumery, where it belongs to the large spices family. Since it pairs with every olfactory family, pink pepper is found within a great many fragrances, each as different, yet as beautiful, as the next.