Where does white pepper come from?

White pepper comes from black pepper, which is the dried berry of the woody, climbing vine Piper nigrum. While growing on the vine, the peppercorn ripens from green to yellow to red. To make black pepper, the peppercorns are picked and dried. To get white pepper, the peppercorns are left on the vine a bit longer, so they remain lighter in color in the drying process. White pepper is usually used for aesthetic purposes — a cook doesn’t want black flakes floating in a white sauce, for example. It is also said to have a milder taste and smell.