Post-harvest Operations

Harvested spikes are repeatedly exposed in the sun for 4-5 days until they are perfectly dry. The green spike to dry spike ratio is around 10:1.5. Dried spikes have to be stored in moisture proof containers. Long pepper of commerce is the dried, unripe spike about 35 mm long and 5 mm thick, brown or blackish in colour. The product has a hot and warm sensoric quality similar to those of black pepper, but not so strong and with slight sweet overtones. The produce fetches price according to the grade. Piplamool, product made of the dried thicker parts of lower stems/roots is of three grades. The grade I with thick roots and underground stem fetching higher price than grade II and III which comprise either roots, stem or broken fragments.