Cubebe pepper - Grinder
Cubebe pepper with a fresh and minty aroma. Cubèbe Pepper is an excellent pepper, a gourmet pepper. The Cuban Pepper or Pepper with tail is very tasty with tasty notes and with a taste of fresh mint naturally. It is an ideal pepper to sprinkle with cavaillon melons.
- Pepper power: 4/10
- Main Notes: Menthol and Eucalyptus Notes
- Use: Salad, dessert and Asian cuisine
- Origin: South India and Indonesia
Cuban pepper can be crushed, ground or used as whole grain, ideal for creative everyday cooking. Sale of cubed pepper in grain at the best price.
Cubeb Pepper
in a Refillable Mill
"Cubeb pepper with its fresh yet minty aroma. Cubeb Pepper is a pepper of excellence, a gourmet pepper, with a naturally fresh mint taste. It is an ideal pepper to sprinkle over Cavaillon melons."
Unique Flavor
A magnificent hint of mint, resinous traits, and a subtle bitterness. A pepper that barely stings the palate.
Indonesian Origin
Cultivated on the lands of Java and Sumatra, this terroir gives cubeb its distinctive character and aromatic power.
Total Versatility
Ideal for melon, sorbets, chocolate, and Asian cuisine. It can even replace vanilla in certain recipes.
Read the history of pepper to discover the story of the King of Portugal in his search for this black gold. You must learn about the fascinating universe of Cubeb pepper, an intriguing spice with a captivating character that has won over palates worldwide. Appreciated for its distinctive aroma and slightly pungent flavor, Cubeb pepper has become a prized ingredient, particularly in Asian cuisine.
On our YouTube channel and blog, you will discover why you should buy cubeb pepper and why it is the best pepper for summer. Join us in discovering a few delicious recipes highlighting the exceptional taste of Cubeb pepper, also nicknamed "tailed pepper" to distinguish it from Madagascar's wild pepper.
Le Comptoir de Toamasina is the online grocery store specializing in the finest spices, cubeb pepper, vanilla beans, rare peppers, whole peppercorns, and flavors of the world. Cubeb pepper is a peppercorn cultivated in Indonesia. The soil of Indonesia gives this pepper a completely unique character and flavor. With cubeb, we rediscover the world of pepper. Cubeb features a magnificent note of mint, resin, and bitterness. In Indonesia, it is quite the star: piper cubeba.
Feel free to check out our cubeb pepper by the kilo, our professional packaging format.
What you will see in this video
Arnaud presents Cubeb pepper and shares how he discovered it in Asia.
Comparative Sensory Analysis
Cubeb vs Black Pepper vs Ashanti
Three "tailed peppers", three families of sensations
The secret of freshness: cubeb contains 5 times more essential oil than black pepper. It is cubebin, a sesquiterpene alcohol nicknamed "cubeb camphor," which triggers this intense and lasting sensation of freshness—without tasting like menthol. This molecule was even patented by a major flavor group as a cooling agent for chewing gums and toothpastes.
Cubeb · Black Pepper · Ashanti
Technical Sheet
What You Receive
- Country of OriginIndonesia, Java, Ceylon, and India
- Botanical SpeciesPiper cubeba
- IngredientsCubeb Pepper
- Aromatic Power4/10
- Main NotesMinty and eucalyptus
- UsageSalads, desserts, and Asian cuisine
- AllergenNone
- Possible TracesNone
- PackagingMill
- LogisticsPrepared within 24h - Delivered within 48h
Cubeb Tailed Pepper in a Few Words
Cubeb pepper, also known as tailed pepper, is a pepper variety originating from the Java and Sumatra regions. It is the fruit of a perennial climbing plant of the Piperaceae family. Dark-colored and elongated, Cubeb peppercorns are distinguished by their characteristic little tail, hence their name.
Cubeb pepper is widely appreciated for its distinct aroma, often described as halfway between black pepper and cloves. Its slightly fruity and pungent taste makes it a versatile ingredient to enhance a variety of dishes, from meat dishes to vegetarian meals and spice blends like ras el hanout.
Discover and purchase cubeb, learn its history, its use in creative cooking, and buy it at the best price per kilo. Tailed pepper comes from the island of Java like long pepper; it is subtle with a slight bitterness and mint notes. It is a pepper that does not sting and works wonders in Asian cuisine.
The Distinctive Sign: A Real Tail
The fruit is extended at its base by an extension of the pericarp (false pedicel) 5 to 10 mm long, mimicking a real tail—this unique morphological detail gives it the name "tailed pepper." The hard, white seed is attached to the inner wall of the shriveled berry only by its base, leaving the rest free inside a hollow envelope.
The Spice Route of Le Comptoir de Toamasina and Arnaud - Cubeb Pepper
Cubeb pepper is somewhat the new star of Le Comptoir de Toamasina, as it can also replace vanilla. It is a pepper little known in Europe and France, yet it is a peppercorn full of flavor. We love it for its intense taste. True to form, it can be used from starter to dessert.
In search of an unprecedented spice to sublimate salads, melons, and Asian dishes, our creator Arnaud undertook a gustatory journey looking for a unique pepper. It was while traveling in Asia and Vietnam that he discovered this pepper. He set out to find an importer and discovered it in Germany in 2014. They showed him a gustatory-unique batch and, most importantly, taught him the art of using it in cooking. Because this is not a pepper used like all others.
It is strongly recommended to use it sparingly to avoid any unwanted bitterness. Furthermore, it is crucial never to subject this aromatic treasure to excessive heat, thereby keeping its delicate nuances intact.
The History of Cubeb Pepper
It is simply the fruit of a perennial climbing plant of the Piperaceae family, native to the Indonesian islands of Java, Sumatra, and the Indies. This pepper is also cultivated in Sri Lanka, often grown right in the middle of coffee plantations. Cubeb pepper is harvested green before maturity, and the grains are then sun-dried, giving it its dark color.
Around 300 BC, the Greek philosopher Theophrastus already mentioned komakon, a precious ingredient in aromatic mixtures that contemporary historians identify as cubeb. To preserve their monopoly, Javanese producers systematically scalded the berries before export to destroy the germ and prevent any acclimatization of the vine outside Indonesia.
It was the Arabs who imported cubeb pepper into Europe during the Middle Ages—its name likely stems from the Arabic kabāba. In medieval Europe, it was an extremely costly luxury spice. It is found in Francesco Pegolotti's registry of precious goods (1340) and in the royal English culinary manuscript Forme of Cury (1390).
This pepper became very rare in the 17th century because the King of Portugal, who then ruled the spice route, banned it to favor black pepper. It was initially unfindable in Europe in the 19th century and remains very little known today—though tailed pepper is still widely used in the Maghreb.
It should not strictly be called pepper—a designation reserved for the Piper nigrum family—but it is commonly accepted to broaden the term to other members of the Piper genus, such as cubeb or Javanese long pepper.
The Darling of Great Gins
Cubeb is also the secret botanical behind the complex freshness of certain prestigious gins—including the original recipe for Bombay Sapphire (1761, relaunched in 1987). Thanks to sabinene, a molecule shared with juniper berries, cubeb acts as a natural aromatic bridge between the two spices. It is also used in the famous Russian pepper vodka, Pertsovka.
What is Cubeb - Tailed Pepper?
Cubeb pepper is a very rare pepper native to Indonesia or southern India. It stands out completely from other peppercorns with its fresh notes, its unique minty taste, and its small tail. Cubeb Pepper is ideal for accompanying braised endives, fish, or Cavaillon melon. It will wonderfully sublimate your citrus or red fruit sorbets, all your chocolate preparations, and of course all your Asian recipes. An atypical pepper, it is a curiosity at every gathering.
How to Use Cubeb in Cooking and Pastry
Warning: it should not be confused with Madagascar wild pepper. Cubeb pepper can be used crushed, ground, or whole. Like the vast majority of peppers, it can be used in savory or sweet cooking—in a marinade, sprinkled over an ostrich steak, smoked salmon, Indonesian cuisine, and in rice dishes. Compared to other peppers, tailed cubeb pepper should be sprinkled at the end of cooking or directly on the plate.
Caution: the pepper can turn bitter if heated for too long. When you taste it, you will discover a pepper that is quite warm and long on the palate with hints of mint.
Bitterness in Modern Cooking
Today, bitterness is a flavor many struggle to appreciate, as it is largely absent from our daily diet. But bitterness is delicious when properly balanced: a few notes of bitterness in a savory or sweet recipe are the sign of delightful gastronomy that gives relief to flavors and highlights all other finishing notes of the dish. It is found in chocolate, coffee, beer, caramel—and in our Cubeb peppercorns.
True Cubeb vs. Counterfeit: The Apothecary Test
A curiosity for seasoned palates: historically, apothecaries distinguished true cubeb from non-compliant wild species by placing a pinch of crushed powder onto concentrated sulfuric acid. True Piper cubeba then turns an intense crimson red, caused by cubebic acid exclusive to this species—whereas counterfeits remain colorless or turn pale yellow.
Recipe Ideas with Cubeb Pepper
Every week, Le Comptoir de Toamasina offers creative recipes on our blog. Discover the best recipes featuring cubeb pepper: Melon salad, mozzarella with cubeb pepper. Chef Arnaud from Apogée Bar also suggests 10 incredible recipes to make with cubeb pepper available on our blog:
- Cubeb Pepper Lime Salmon: Marinate salmon fillets with crushed Cubeb Pepper, lime zest, and olive oil. Bake and serve with a basmati rice side.
- Melon and Feta Salad with Cubeb Pepper: Combine melon cubes with crumbled feta cheese. Season with ground Cubeb Pepper, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh mint leaves.
- Asian Chicken Skewers with Cubeb Pepper: Thread chicken pieces onto skewers, marinate in sweet soy sauce with Cubeb Pepper, then grill.
- Beef Carpaccio with Cubeb Pepper: Thinly slice beef fillet, season with crushed Cubeb Pepper, parmesan shavings, capers, and a drizzle of olive oil.
- Pilaf Rice with Cubeb Pepper and Vegetables: Cook pilaf rice adding whole Cubeb Pepper during cooking.
- White Chocolate Mousse with Cubeb Pepper: Prepare a white chocolate mousse adding a pinch of ground Cubeb Pepper.
- Avocado Tartare with Cubeb Pepper: Mix diced avocado with cherry tomatoes, red onions, lemon juice, and ground Cubeb Pepper.
- Chicken Curry with Cubeb Pepper: Prepare a chicken curry adding Cubeb Pepper for an exotic touch.
- Vanilla and Cubeb Pepper Crème Brûlée: Infuse Cubeb Pepper into the cream, bringing a subtle warmth.
- Strained Yogurt with Red Berries and Cubeb Pepper: Mix strained yogurt with fresh red berries, a drizzle of honey, and a pinch of ground Cubeb Pepper.
How to Store Cubeb Pepper
To store cubeb or tailed pepper in optimal conditions, Le Comptoir de Toamasina recommends keeping it away from light and any temperature shocks, inside an airtight container. As whole grains, it keeps for 18 to 24 months; once ground, its volatile fraction evaporates in under 3 months.
Where to Find and Buy Cubeb Pepper Online
Le Comptoir de Toamasina is where you go to find the best cubeb pepper at the best quality-to-price ratio. Buy cubeb pepper with incredible chef-level flavors. At Le Comptoir, it's all about buying and selling the finest cubeb pepper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does cubeb give a mentholated freshness sensation?
How to tell true cubeb apart from a counterfeit?
Does cubeb have a connection to gin?
How should cubeb pepper be stored?
"The pepper that doesn't sting but refreshes — the unsung star of Le Comptoir, bridging mint, resin, and a touch of noble bitterness."
Order My Cubeb Pepper MillPiper cubeba · Indonesia · Arnaud Sion Selection
- Native country
- South India and Indonesia
- BOTANICAL SPECIES
- Piper Cubeba
- INGREDIENTS
- Cubebe Pepper
- AROMATIC POWER
- 4/10
- ALLERGEN
- Absence
- POSSIBLE TRACES OF ALLERGENS
- None
- PACKAGING
- Bottle, Sachet and Mill
- Preparation / Delivery
- Preparation within 24 hours - Delivery within 48 hours