Green peppercorns bottled in brine (i.e. salt solution) are exported from Tamil Nadu to other parts of the world. This delicacy of unripe peppers is available for only for a few weeks in a year i.e. before the monsoons and before the onset of the winters. You will find them at certain specialty vegetable vendors, so look out for them. Carefully wash the peppercorns so that you can retain them with their stalks on. A teaspoon of oil added to the recipe acts as a protective covering for the peppercorns and helps to keep them for a longer period.

This is one of Delhi's most popular winter pickles. Large glass jars of this pickle are often sold at street corners. An assortment of fresh winter vegetables, fresh green garlic in tangy mustard flavoured water makes my mouth water just to think of it. Special "black" carrots available in winter enrich the colour of the "water" in this pickle to a glorious beet colour. Unable to find the bleeding "black" carrots, I have substituted them with ordinary red carrots. I often replenish the vegetables in this pickle as they get eaten. Fresh green peppercorns with their stalks can be added if they are in season. This pickle stays well for 8 to 10 days. It will get sour as time passes, you may need to add some sugar as that happens. One way to slow its deterioration is to refrigerate it.