Pepper is actually a curly-climbing vine best grown on a sloppy ground in tropical warm climate. A 3.5 meter pole (usually "Belian" or iron wood) is erected to support the vine which can last for a as long as 15 years. It takes about one to three years for it to grow to a height of about 3 meters. When it is matured, flower spikes arise at most nodes opposite the leaves. Its flowers are mostly self-pollinated. From there, pepper berries are produced, which when ripe are either yellowish or reddish green in color. Harvesting is done strictly by hand so as not to injure the vine. The berries with black spots are usually spread out in the sun to make black pepper while the ones that are (or almost) spotless will be socked in the water pond or high-density cylinder to rip off its pericarps before drying briefly, to make white pepper. Both processes take about almost a week before the are being graded.