PEPPER MARKETING BOARD MALAYSIA

Pepper is grown in Malaysia predominantly in the state of Sarawak where pepper is planted by smallholders on an estimated 11,500 hectares. As such, pepper of Malaysian origin is traded in the world market as SARAWAK PEPPER. Annual production is in the region of 25,000 tonnes and over 90% of this is exported.

In 1972, Pepper Marketing Board was established with its objective to regulate, promote and improve the marketing of Sarawak Pepper and value-added pepper and pepper products.

Most recently, through the Board's initiative, Malaysia has gone into the production of Specialty Pepper and value-added pepper to meet specific requirement of end-users. These include Creamy White Pepper, Naturally Clean Pepper and Sterilized MIKROKLEEN Pepper. At the same time a number of pepper-based products are being developed.

Sarawak Creamy White Pepper

This Premium white pepper has very uniform creamy or ivory white appearance and
even-sized berries of  minimum 4mm diameter. It is suitable for retail bottling and for
use directly on sausages and salads where color and appearance are important. Specific
processing facilities are set up in selected areas in Sarawak to produce this specialty pepper.

Sarawak Naturally Clean Black Pepper

This ready-to-use, clean black pepper complies with stringent hygiene and microbiological
standards for food. It is free from insect, waste contamination, yeast / mould and harmful
pathogen and the microbial load is within "safe" levels. Consumers who are concerned with
food hygiene and contamination will appreciate this product.

Specialised post-harvest processing facilities are set up to process fresh pepper berries into
black pepper and immediately pack the product, all under controlled hygienic conditions. Thus
the pepper does not need any further cleaning, chemical treatment or irradiation.

MIKROKLEEN (Steam-Sterilized) Pepper

To meet the growing demand for "safe and clean" pepper, the Pepper Marketing Board has set
up a sterilization plant in 1998 which uses super steam to reduce microbes, yeast and mould on
pepper to "safe" levels. Pepper sterilized in this way does not contain harmful chemical residues,
is permitted by countries worldwide and accepted by consumers. The treatment also brings out
the natural aroma of the spice. This product is marketed as Sarawak MIKROKLEEN Pepper.

Ground Pepper

Pepper, black or white, is used largely in the broken and ground form. However, the flavor quality
of pepper, once ground, deteriorates rapidly through oxidation and loss of volatiles. At PMB, we take
measures in applying proper grinding process and packaging to preserve and prolong the shelf life
of ground pepper.

Saraspice Pepper Products

To make the above premium quality pepper available to household users in the Malaysian market, they are now packaged in retail packs under the Board's house brand "Saraspice". Other products developed by the Board include green peppercorn in brine, garlic pepper, 5 - Season Pepper, Black Pepper Marinade and non-food products such as Pepper Sweet and Pepper Perfume.

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