Ground and whole peppercorns come in various colors, and all but the pink type are from the same perennial plant, Piper nigrum. * Green peppercorns are the unripe berries, which are sold pickled or freeze-dried but rarely fresh. * Black peppercorns are the dried form of the green, unripe berries. * White peppercorns are made by soaking ripened, red peppercorns until the skin peels off. * Pink peppercorns are the dried and only slightly spicy berries of the Schinus molle plant.