Native to the Mediterranean basin and western Asia, Chaste Tree is a flowering shrub that thrives in warm climates. It grows between three and eighteen feet tall, with long, finger-like leaves and airy spikes of soft violet blossoms in summer. Its flowers give way to small, round berries that mature to a deep purple-brown, each the size of a peppercorn.
Among herbalists, the berries are often called vitex, while the name monk’s pepper grew from their use in European monasteries. The dried berries were sometimes carried or added to simple meals as a peppery seasoning, linked with monastic life and discipline. When steeped, the crushed berries release a warm, spicy aroma and a dry, subtly resinous taste that lingers on the palate.
