Abstract Four popular cultivars of black pepper from Kerala viz. âKarimunda,â âKalluvally,â âArakulam mundaâ and Thommankody' were analyzed for a period of three consecutive seasons for their oil composition. Fifty five compounds were identified in the oils by GC and GC/MS. The main components were Î±-pinene (2.4â11.4%), Î²-pinene(2.0â15.27%), Î´-3-carene(0.1â21.0%), limonene(9.4â21.9%)and Î²-caryophyllene (19.8â45.3%).