Pepperette

In opening up the case for the prosecution Mr. Sadler stated that the pepper was found by the analyst (Dr. Campbell Brown) to contain 7 percent, of pepperette; and he was proceeding to refer to Mr. Kotzian, the manufacturer of the substance, when Mr. FirmiDger objected, and the objection was sustained by the Bench.

It has heretofore mainly consisted in the addition of rice, sand, and shop-sweepings, but recently a trade has sprung up in the sale of “poivrette” or “pepperette,” a substance which is made in Italy by grinding olive stones, and is sold in this country at about 1d. a lb., whereas the price of the pepper with which it is mixed is from 8d. to 1s.6d. a lb.

The chief adulterants of pepper are: excess of mineral matter (sand, etc.) starch (chiefly rice), long pepper, added husk, and ground olive stones or pepperette or poivrette.

The idea is also applied to spices, such as ginger, mace, cinnamon, nutmeg, mixed spice, &c., a household box of pepperettes, containing six assorted spices of the best quality, costing 1s. 3d.

Small cruets, or pepperettes, salt cellars, and quaint mustard pots are placed at the corners ; or, if available, near each person.

The pepperette is cast as a begging pug dog, the salt as a bear: both have decoratively pierced pull-off heads .

The 'bun pepperette' had a baluster-shaped body, but the steeply- domed pierced lid was replaced by a much smaller lid, usually with relatively simple piercing, reducing the overall height quite considerably to create an altogether squatter appearance.

Out of the case, the meat case across the back of the store which had pepperettes, bologna, cold cuts, cheeses, steaks, chops, hams, all sorts of items.