The cost of pepper has rocketed as a result of worldwide supply shortages.

The commodity price of black pepper has soared 17.4% to £1,974 a tonne in the past week, according to Mintec figures. Although the price is similar to this time last year, analysts expect the global price, which is between £1,700 and £2,000, to increase by £200 in the next few months.

Poor harvests are to blame for the shortfalls, with Indonesian and Vietnamese harvests hit by excessive rainfall, India hampered by insufficient monsoon rain, and the forthcoming Brazilian crop affected by flooding.