How to know white pepper powder is adulterated with rice flour

Do you ever wonder why some store brought white pepper powder is so tasteless? There is a high chance the white pepper is mixed with rice flour, one of the most common adulterants in white pepper powder.

Why would they mix white pepper powder with rice flour?

1. Rice is one of the cheapest commodity can use to lower production costs and increase profit margin.
2. They are hardly noticeable in the white pepper powder. The rice smell is covered by the white pepper smell.
3. They are used to brighten the color of white pepper powder to make it more appealing to the consumer.
4. They are used as anti-caking agents.

How to spot rice flour in white pepper powder?

Color

The color of white pepper powder adulterated with rice flour will appear brighter (as pictured above).

Density

Rice flour is denser than white pepper powder. It can be seen in the picture above. Both are the same in net weight (80g), the one on the right (adulterated) takes up less volume, and it is also brighter in color.

Flowability

White pepper powder mixed with rice flour tend to flow better and reduce caking. Rice flour is a common anti-caking agent. Because it is able to absorb moisture before the powder does.