Plant Guide > Spices > Caper spice

Caper spice

Caper is a trailing shrub (Capparis spinosa), a native of the Mediterranean countries and now chiefly cultivated in Sicily, Italy, the southern part of France and in the Southern States.

The unopened flower pods are gathered every morning and at once pickled in salt and vinegar. This material is used as a spice in flavoring meat sauces. It is slightly laxative in effect.