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Large Peppercorns
Le Comptoir de Toamasina selects only the largest black peppercorns for a unique aromatic intensity.
Flavor Explorer
Arnaud travels the globe like an explorer to unearth black peppercorns that turn your cooking into creative art.
Exporter in Brazil
You can order directly from our company in Brazil. We are an established pepper exporter in Brazil.
Buy quality black pepper at the best value for money. Le Comptoir de Toamasina is your premier destination for purchasing whole black peppercorns, featuring only the largest grains.
Arnaud, founder of Le Comptoir de Toamasina, travels the world in search of black peppers that transform your recipes into creative cuisine. Like Bartolomeu Dias, Le Comptoir de Toamasina sails the world searching for exceptional harvests. Explore our rare peppers and vanilla beans.
We offer peppers with an explosion of flavor for an unforgettable taste journey. Our collection ranges from mild to intense (Sarawak, Madagascar, Brazil, Kampot, Ceylon...).
Buying black pepper is simple, but pepper with a story changes everything. At Le Comptoir de Toamasina, we operate our own hub in Brazil to import Brazilian black pepper directly from small local farms without intermediaries. For other origins, we establish direct partnerships on-site with growers and collaborate with their trusted French partners.
Le Comptoir de Toamasina invents nothing; we simply share our passion for black pepper with our guests.
- On sale!
Product available with different options
Peppers
Black pepper - Brazil
Out-of-Stock
Black Pepper
Sarawak Black Pepper
Out-of-Stock
Black Pepper
Sarawak Black Pepper - Kilo
Out-of-Stock
Black Pepper
Saint Mathieu Black Pepper - Brazil
Out-of-Stock
Ground Pepper
Red and Black Pepper Kampot IGP - Grinder
Discover the exclusive whole black peppercorn collection by Le Comptoir de Toamasina
When the founder of Le Comptoir de Toamasina first visited Madagascar, he discovered exceptional Madagascar vanilla. He soon became a vanilla expert and now cultivates wild vanilla at his test plantation in Brazil.
His business started in Lille markets (Sébastopol & Place du Concert). Later journeys to Madagascar and Vietnam opened the door to the world of black pepper, building one of the finest pepper collections available in France.
All black peppercorns from Le Comptoir de Toamasina are carefully selected for size and intense aroma. Arnaud shares videos and field expeditions across Brazil so you can explore the universe of spices. Our selection ranges from classics like Madagascar black pepper to grand crus like PGI Kampot black pepper.
There is only one botanical species for these peppers: Piper nigrum, producing 4 pepper colors. Explore our refillable mills and our world pepper gift set.
What is black pepper? Cultivation and drying
Black pepper comes from the fruits of the perennial vine Piper nigrum. It corresponds to the second harvest stage, when the fruit is fully developed and turns yellowish to light green.
Clusters are harvested and threshed (manually or mechanically) before sun-drying for about 7 days. During drying, pepper is raked regularly with wooden tools for uniform drying, wrinkling the pericarp and giving it its distinctive black color.
Did you know? Black pepper is the world's best-selling spice. It is also the easiest pepper to produce because the vine yields two harvests a year and does not require complex pericarp removal like white pepper.
All about true peppers and false peppers
Under French law (1945 decree), the legal term "pepper" is reserved exclusively for fruits from the genus Piper.
● Green Pepper
Unripe berries harvested early, preserved in brine or freeze-dried.
● Black Pepper
Berries picked at the yellow-green stage and sun-dried for 7 days.
● Red Pepper
Fully mature berries sun-dried with care due to fragile pericarp.
● White Pepper
Mature berries soaked in water to remove the pericarp layer.
Other true peppers (Piper genus):
- Piper longum: yields long pepper (Java, Kampot, Timiz). Buy long pepper.
- Piper cubeba: produces cubeb or tailed pepper.
- Piper borbonense: produces Voatsiperifery wild pepper from Madagascar.
False peppers (Aromatic berries):
False peppers cannot legally be called pepper in France:
- Zanthoxylum piperitum: Sichuan pepper, Timur berries (citrus relative).
- Schinus terebinthifolius: produces pink peppercorns (wild in Brazil's Cerrado).
- Vitex agnus-castus: monk's pepper berry.
- Pimenta dioica: allspice / Jamaica pepper (clove-like aroma).
- Xylopia aethiopica: Selim berry (licorice notes).
- Aframomum melegueta: grains of paradise.
How to use black pepper in cooking?
Black pepper is the ultimate versatile spice. For maximum aromatic power, dry-roast peppercorns lightly in a pan before coarsely crushing them with a mortar or mill. Watch our video to make your own mignonette pepper.
Chef Arnaud's Tip: Always add black pepper at the very end of cooking or directly on the plate. Prolonged heat destroys essential oils. Added late, it delivers warm, earthy, and bright spicy notes perfect for red meats, sauces, and vinaigrettes.
Our black pepper recipes:
How to store black pepper & buying guide
Black peppercorns absorb ambient odors and moisture. Keep them in a dry place, at room temperature, away from light and strong spices.
1. Buy bulk and larger grains
Buy whole peppercorns. Ground pepper loses flavor and properties fast. Crush a grain on paper: if an oily mark remains, essential oils are well preserved.
2. Choose your color carefully
Different colors yield unique flavor profiles from the same fruit. Tasting is the best way to choose!
3. Test different botanical families
Vary species and origins to experience vastly different taste universes.
4. Look for origins you love
Terroir, climate, and drying methods directly influence pepper's organoleptic qualities.
Which countries produce black pepper?
Black pepper is nicknamed "Green Gold" in Brazil. Here is the global production breakdown:
34%
Vietnam
19%
India
13%
Brazil
9%
Indonesia
8%
Malaysia
7%
China
6%
Sri Lanka
Chef Arnaud's Top 3 best black peppers in the world:
1
PGI Kampot Black Pepper
The undisputed king of black peppers. Notes of mint, citrus, and elegant heat. Buy Kampot Pepper.
2
Madagascar Black Pepper
A favorite in France. Fresh, woody notes with a touch of lemon. Buy Madagascar Pepper.
3
Smoked Black Pepper
Smoked pepper with resinous, woody, and citrus notes, ideal for meats. Buy Smoked Pepper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find quality black pepper?
At Le Comptoir de Toamasina, discover top black pepper selections weighing between 500g and 600g per liter, selected by Arnaud Vanille!
What is the price of a kilo of black pepper?
Madagascar black pepper starts at 29 EUR per 1 kg, with adjusted pricing for larger volumes (e.g., 50 kg).
Which is better: white or black pepper?
Black pepper is the most aromatic because pericarp and core combine to deliver rich notes. White pepper is milder, featuring musky and subtle animal notes.