Black peppercorns, Kali Mirch.

Black pepper hails from southern India. It comes from a climbing vine, the fruits of which – small round berries – ripen from green to red and finally to brown. Black peppercorns are actually berries that are picked when they’re just turning red. They are then dried whole before being sold. Peppercorns can be green, white or black, depending on when they are harvested.