There are 2 types of long pepper - one from India (Piper longum) and the other from Indonesia (Piper retrofactum). Ours is currently Piper Retrofactum from Indonesia.

They grow on slender vines that have sparser-looking foliage compared to classic pepper vines. Both types of long pepper are shaped like mini catkins 5mm in diameter and 3cm in length with similar colour to black peppercorns, i.e. dark brown to black. Long pepper has a strange sweet and fragrant aroma that seems like incense, but the flavour is bitingly hot, lingering and number. Indonesian black pepper is slightly longer and more pungent that the Indian variety. Use them in pickles instead of black pepper to give more bite or in North African or Ethiopian dishes.