Thalassery, formerly Tellicherry, is located in the northwest of the Indian state of Kerala and is the namesake of one of the very special and best types of pepper that India has to offer. Tellicherry pepper is made from fully ripe, red pepper berries, which are fermented and dried with the whole pulp. This makes the pepper black, but not jet black, rather it has a pleasant deep brown color. This process has made the aroma even more pronounced: the fully ripe peppercorns have taken on a distinctly nutty flavor, but also a strong spiciness. This pepper is used primarily with dark meat such as game and beef, but also in chocolatey desserts.