Voatsiperifery red pepper

Voatsiperifery is a wild pepper harvested by hand by Madagascan villagers in humid tropical forest areas. It grows wild and is not cultivated. Harvesting is difficult, as this liana climbs up to 20 meters on dense tropical forest trees. And it only bears fruit on the young shoots, i.e. at the very top...
This harvesting of wild plants explains why the spice contains berries in various stages of ripeness: green berries (black after drying) and red berries. Often mistaken locally for the cubeb because of its small tail, it differs in having smaller berries and a twisted tail.
A rare and little-known spice, even in Madagascar, it gives off a woody scent with earthy notes, but also hints of fruit, citrus and flowers... It also has an incisive freshness and spiciness, tenacious and mild at the same time. It is similar to long pepper and cubeb. The Reunion variety is slightly more aniseed-flavored.
It goes well with meats such as pork and lamb, as well as fruit (strawberries, pears) and even chocolate... voa: meaning fruit, tsiperifery: the Malagasy name for the plant.

Botany: Piper borbonense (INPN)
Origin: Madagascar, Africa
Ingredients: 100% red pepper
Storage: Several years, protected from light and humidity.
Product strength: 6 (Scoville)