Berries grown from bushes of prickly ash. Unlike the black, white, or green peppercorns, this fruit is produced from shrubs that are not a part of the Piper species of peppercorn plants. The berry is similar to a black peppercorn but contains a tiny seed and has a distinctive flavor that is less sharp. Brown peppercorns are most often ground to produce Asian spices known as Sichuan, Szechwan or Chinese pepper.