Malabar pepper Malabar pepper Malabar pepper is a variety of black pepper that originated as a chance seedling in a geographical region that now forms part of the present day state of Kerala in India. The area of production of this variety of pepper now covers all the geographical regions that were once part of the Malabar region of the erstwhile Madras Presidency. These regions now entail the entire South India area. Malabar pepper was one of the most sought after commodities by the ancient Roman and Arab traders, and later by the early European navigators. Malabar pepper is classified under two
HMS Malabar (1804) From November 1806 to January 1807 "Malabar" was in Woolwich being fitted as a 20-gun storeship. In November 1806 she was commissioned under Captain John Temple, and after fitting out sailed for the North Sea. At a court martial on board "Gladiator" at Portsmouth on 1 June 1807, Lieutenant Pennyman Stevenson of "Malabar" was found guilty of neglect of duty and dismissed from the Navy. "Malabar" sailed for the River Plate later that month. "Malabar" was commissioned in May 1808 under J. Henzell (Master). "Lloyd's List" reported on 10 May 1808 that the Portuguese brig "Legeiro" had arrived at Portsmouth.