Cubebs are the fruits (drupes) of a perennial shrubby vine native to Indonesia, now found growing all over tropical Asia, which grows up to 6 metres high. The leaves are petiolate and oblong-ovate in shape, glossy dark green in colour with lighter green veins and midrib and are 2.5-5cm in length. The inflorescences grow in clustered upright spikes of yellowish-green flowers which spiral around the inflorescence. The flowers give way to berries which look similar to black pepper but are stalked, green in colour ripening to dark brown and are approximately 4mm in diameter.
