White Muntok pepper GI

Muntok is a white pepper for general use, very suitable for use in European cuisine, in delicate preparations and in preparation where absolutely white and not black pepper is desired, such as in white sauces.

Protected geographical indication (Indonesian label)

White muntok is one of the best-known white peppers in the world, originating from the Indonesian islands of Bangka and Billiton. The pepper is named after the port of Muntok on Bangka.

The islands off the coast of Sumatra are mountainous, which is partly why farmers specialize in the production of white pepper. Traditionally, they bring their freshly harvested (ripe) peppers into the mountains to rinse them in streams. This takes a week, after which the skins of the white, ripe flesh are released and can be separated from the berries.

Then it is left to the sun to dry the peppers, giving them their creamy white color. To celebrate the harvest of the white pepper, the residents traditionally perform a dance called the nari meraca, the pepper dance.

In recent years, the traditional way in which white pepper is made (and celebrated) has come under pressure,  not only due to theft of the valuable pepper from the streams, far away from the plantations. More and more farmers, united in corporations, prefer to soak the pepper close to home in a safer location. Blame them.

Climate change is also affecting farmers. The Dutch Verstegen has been active on Bangka since 2019 to help make cultivation more sustainable by following the model that is already running practice in many countries, growing pepper in combination with ginger and turmeric, fruit bushes and trees, such as durian. The combination of crops ensures that sufficient nutrients remain in the soil and does not deplete the soil, so that less additional fertilization is required.

Usage

Muntok pepper, is classically a pepper for delicate preparations, of white fish, white meat, such as poultry and lean pork, crustaceans, rice, pasta, in white sauces and with steamed vegetables. The ferment aromas are modest.

Features:

• white pepper from the ripe pepper berries of the Piper nigrum
• protected by the Indonesian PGI label (international: PGI)
• origin: Bangka, Indonesia

Assortment

• available in glass, stand-up pouch and test tube
• glass jar contains 75 grams
• stand-up pouches with a capacity of up to 30 to 500 grams
• available in 10 ml test tube
• larger quantities on request

Gift packaging

• the jar is available in a tasteful gift packaging, consisting of a cube box filled with black tissue paper
• for an overview of our gift packaging, please refer to the section  gift packaging 

General advice

• grind your pepper shortly before use
  

Save:

• store your muntok pepper in closed packaging
• preferably store in a dark, dry and cool place
• best before September 2026 (09/26)
• this expiration date is an indication

Would you like to know what this muntok pepper tastes like?

You can also try a test tube. The tube contains enough pepper to understand the flavor essence.