Why Is Black Pepper Called "Black Gold"?
How black pepper earned the name black gold — its value in ancient Rome, use as currency and ransom, the spice routes from Kerala, and why it's still the world's most traded spice.
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Black pepper is on almost every table in the world today. For most of history, though, it was a luxury worth its weight in silver, and sometimes gold. That's why it's still called "black gold".
Worth more than its weight
Pepper only grew in a few tropical places, above all the Malabar coast of today's Kerala. To reach Europe, it passed through many hands across the Indian Ocean, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and each trader added a margin. By the time it reached Rome or Venice, a small bag was a fortune.
Pepper as money
- Rome: Roman writers complained about how much gold flowed east to pay for Indian spices, pepper above all
- Ransom: when the Visigoths besieged Rome in 408 AD, their demands reportedly included thousands of pounds of pepper
- Rent and dowries: in medieval Europe, pepper was accepted as payment. The English legal phrase "peppercorn rent" survives today, though it now means a token amount
- Ancient Egypt: peppercorns were even found with the mummy of Pharaoh Ramses II
Why it was so prized
- It preserved and flavoured food in an age without refrigeration
- It was believed to have medicinal powers
- It was a status symbol, because only the rich could afford it
- It was light and durable, perfect for long-distance trade
The race for black gold
The value of pepper drove explorers to find sea routes to India, including Vasco da Gama in 1498. See why Vasco da Gama came to Kerala.
Black gold today
Pepper is still the world's most traded spice by value. Prices still swing with harvests, and genuine bold Malabar pepper still earns a premium. See black pepper grades.
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