Family Name: Piperaceae
Botanical Name(s): Piper cubeba
Popular Name(s): Cubeb, Tailed Pepper, False Pepper
Parts Used: Fruit
Habitat: The cubeb plant originally belongs to Indonesia. It is
now grown in many parts of Asia too.
Description: Cubeb plant is a perennial which grows up to a
height of 20 feet. The fruit (Cubeb Berry) is brown in colour and round
in shape which grows from the small flowers of the plant. The leaves are
oval in shape and green in colour. The dried pericarp is grayish-brown
or black and wrinkled. The seeds are hard, white and oily.
Uses: Cubeb is aromatic, pungent, acrid and slightly bitter in
taste. It has antiseptic, antiflatulent and expectorant properties.
Cubeb is very effective in treating problems with the digestive and
urinary tract. Cubeb berry relieves gas and bloating in the digestive
tract. The berries are used to treat the symptoms of bronchitis. It can
relieve infections in the urinary system also.
