Spice

Cubeb

Cubeb is the tailed dried berry of Piper cubeba, with pepper heat and camphor-allspice notes. Historical in European and Indonesian cookery, it still seasons spice blends, gin botanicals, and North African recipes. Distinct from black pepper by the stem tail on each berry.

Also known as: Kemukus, Kabbāba

Track this ingredient

Quantity

Unit

Kg Liters Whole

Note

Cuts & parts

Berry

Breeds & varieties

A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.

View all

Piper cubeba

Tailed Pepper

Cubeb Berry

Java Pepper

Characteristics

Preparations

CrackedDriedFreshGroundPowderRoastedToastedWhole

Provenance

BiodynamicExport GradeFair TradeHand HarvestedNon-GMOOrganicPesticide FreeSingle OriginSun Dried

Sources

Indoor FarmedOutdoor FarmedWild

Traits

Allspice-likeAromaticCamphorComplexPepperyPungentWarmWoody

Nutrition

Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.

Nutrition Facts

Per 100 g edible portion

Calories 310

Amount per 100 g

Total Fat 8.24 g
Saturated Fat 2.25 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 2.25 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.74 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 40 mg
Salt 0.11 g
Total Carbohydrate 49.4 g
Dietary Fibre 23.5 g
Total Sugars 5.05 g
Complex / starch 15.1 g
Protein 9.46 g
Water 27.9 g

Detailed nutrients

Energy 310 kcal
Water 27.9 g
Carbohydrates 49.4 g
- Sugars 5.05 g
  - Monosaccharides 3.54 g
  - Disaccharides 1.51 g
- Starch 15.1 g
  - Amylose 3.77 g
  - Amylopectin 11.3 g
  - Digestible Starch 12.8 g
  - Resistant Starch 1.51 g
- Fibre 23.5 g
  - Soluble Fibre 8.21 g
  - Insoluble Fibre 15.3 g
Protein 9.46 g
- Plant Protein 8.99 g
Fat 8.24 g
- Saturated Fat 2.25 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 2.25 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 3.74 g
  - Omega-3 0.56 g
  - Omega-6 1.59 g
Vitamins 111 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.09 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.13 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 1.69 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.42 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.25 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 3.5 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 46.7 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin E 2.3 mg
- Vitamin K 34.1 µg
Minerals 272 mg
- Major Minerals 266 mg
  - Calcium 43 mg
  - Sodium 40 mg
  - Potassium 183 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.2 mg
  - Iron 0.8 mg
  - Zinc 0.4 mg
  - Iodine 5 µg
Salt 0.11 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.11 g

Vitamins

vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.09 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.13 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 1.69 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.42 · vitamin-b6: 0.25 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 3.5 · vitamin-b9-folate: 46.7 · vitamin-e: 2.3 · vitamin-k: 34.1 ·

Minerals

Sodium: 40.03 · Potassium: 183 · Calcium: 43 · Iron: 0.8 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·

Dried spices are concentrated plant tissue—fibre-heavy by weight, used in gram doses.

In the kitchen

Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Cubeb.

Pairs well with

Classic and complementary matches

Usually avoid with

Often clash in flavour or tradition

History

500 BCEID

Cubeb peppers were traded from Indonesia through Asian spice networks.

1200IT

Medieval European medicine and cookery used cubeb among exotic peppers.

1800

Cubeb use declined in the West but persisted in Indonesian and Maghrebi traditions.

2000

Specialty spice and cocktail cultures revived cubeb for aroma complexity.