Green peppercorns are picked when under ripe, steam cooked, and air-dried to preserve the green color. Green peppercorns are useful for their mellowness that is preferable in dishes such as steak au poivre. They seem to have an affinity for fruit and I use them in salad dressings made with raspberry vinegar. Try them ground on salads, steamed vegetables, salsas, and in sauces. Our freeze-dried peppercorns are smooth skinned, make a beautiful presentation, but do not work as well in grinders as the air-dried version.