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Spicy exchange / 2023

Timut pepper: A distinctive spice with cultural significance

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What to know:

Timut pepper, while not well known in the United States, is a spice with a fascinating history and a unique taste. Derived from the berry husks of zanthoxylum armatum, this spice has its roots in Nepal and the Himalayan regions.

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Timut pepper is a distinctive spice sourced from the husks of berry-like fruits. Sometimes called “timur pepper” or “Nepalese pepper,” this spice shares similarities with Sichuan peppercorns.

What is timut pepper?

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What does it taste like?

Timut pepper is has distinct citrusy notes, often evoking the tangy essence of grapefruit. Unlike conventional notions of spiciness, it doesn’t possess an intense heat; instead, it induces a tingling and numbing sensation.

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One of the things they have in common is the tingling and numbing feeling they create in our mouths – on the tongue, lips, and all around. These two spices come from different plants, even though they’re like cousins in the same plant family.

Timut pepper vs Sichuan pepper

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Timut pepper vs. black peppercorn

The black pepper you’re familiar with comes from a Piper nigrum plant. Timut pepper, on the other hand, is not a part of the pepper family like black pepper. Black peppercorn has a sharp and spicy flavor, while Timut pepper, tastes fresh and citrusy.

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One popular way to use timut pepper is in achaar, a spicy pepper pickle used as a condiment. Also, timut pepper adds a special touch to momos (dumplings) and warming noodle soups. It’s a good match with spices like cinnamon and fenugreek, creating new and tasty flavors.

Culinary uses for Timut pepper

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Other uses for timut pepper

Traditional practices have harnessed its medicinal properties, crafting it into liquor and repelling leeches. It has historically been used in traditional remedies for alleviating toothache, colds, coughs, and fever.

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You’re unlikely to find timut pepper on the shelves of your local supermarket in the U.S. Instead, you may have to venture to local specialty markets that serve the Nepalese community. Luckily, you can grab it on Amazon.

Where to buy timut pepper

* This is an affiliate link

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