Black
pepper is available whole, crushed or ground into powder. Ensure best flavor, purchase
whole peppercorns and grind them yourself in a mill just before adding to a
recipe. In addition to superior flavor, buying whole peppercorns will help to
ensure that you are purchasing unadulterated pepper since ground pepper is
oftentimes mixed with other spices. Whole peppercorns should be heavy, compact
and free of any blemishes.
