They're briny, salty, and delightfully tangy, making them excellent for enhancing myriad dishes (particularly those of Italian origin). But what is a caper, exactly—and where does it come from?

As a home cook, I never thought to buy capers. I associated the bright green buds with a fussy garnish on restaurant plates—hardly an essential pantry staple. Then I visited Italy. In Italian recipes, ...

Caper berries and capers are both derived from the caper plant, but they differ in size and flavor. Caper berries are larger ...