Not related to regular pepper, this berry brings a pleasant, warm, floral, citrusy aroma. The heat surprises your taste buds later on. For the most part, only the berry's outer shell is used, which contains the subtle tongue-numbing kick and aroma. Szechuan peppercorns are not actual peppercorns. They come from the berries of a small ash tree grown in the Szechuan region of China. Szechuan peppercorns have a woody, spicy, and delightful citrus aroma that give a tingling sensation to the tip of the tongue. Great for any stir-fry noodles, artichoke/asparagus, salmon dishes and even desserts!