Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s2.t6.1

v1.c5.s2.t6.1

Pepper is a kind of liana vine that originated in India. The term generally refers to the dried or ripe fruit *piper nigrum*. The Sanskrit term for pepper is *marica* or *maraca* and it is known as black pepper in English. Another Sanskrit term for pepper is ūṣaṇa meaning hot. Together with long pepper and dried ginger, they are known as the “three pungent medicines”, “three pungent spices”, “three hot drugs” or “three pungent drugs”. Pepper has traditionally been a major commodity in the overseas land and sea trade of India and has also been commonly used in the traditional Chinese medicine and food.