Black pepper grows on a flowering vine that can grow up to 32 feet (10 m) tall. It can be grown interspersed among shade crop trees, such as coffee. The black pepper vine has green, almond-shaped leaves. Among the leaves are fruit clusters, known as drupes, that can grow up to about 6 inches (15 cm) long. As the fruit matures, it changes from green to dark red. After being harvested and dried, the black pepper fruit turns even darker, appearing black. Black Pepper essential oil is produced using steam distillation. Although its colour is most brilliant in the early summer, we harvest our lavender plants in July. Once its bright purple colour has started to fade from exposure to the summer heat, the plant produces higher quantity and quality oil.