The Peppercorns (1999)
A long-running German children's detective series following five Hamburg friends who solve real crimes from their spice warehouse headquarters.
The Peppercorns - Series Information
- Original Title: Die Pfefferkörner
- First Air Year: 1999
- Last Air Year: 2025
- Created by: Katharina Mestre
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Kids, Family, Crime
- Content Rating (US): NR
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 21
- Number of Episodes: 273
- Status: Returning Series
- Original Language: German
- Spoken Languages: German
- First Air Date: December 27, 1999 (United States - NR), December 27, 1999 (Germany - 6), December 27, 1999 (Italy - T), December 27, 1999 (Spain - 7)
- Networks: NDR Fernsehen, KiKa, Das Erste
- Production Companies: Studio Hamburg, Letterbox Filmproduktion, Studio Hamburg Filmproduktion
- Production Countries: Germany
The Peppercorns - Plot
Die Pfefferkörner is a German television series produced by Der Kinderkanal. The peppercorns are five friends from Hamburg: Jana Holstein Coutre, Natasha "Tascha" Jaonzäns, Philip "Fiete" Overbeck, Cem Gülec and Vivien "Vivi" Overbeck, Fiete's eight year old sister. After school, the young detectives meet at a high level of a spice warehouse of the company Overbeck & Associates, which belongs to Fiete and Vivi's parents in the first part, but is later given to Fiete and Vivi to look after. Here, in the historic warehouse district, the five friends have their headquarters. With smarts, combined delivery and support of the Internet, they find their cases here. The detectives convict polluters, animal dealers and drug smugglers. They also help each other with personal problems they encounter. Cem has lost his parents in a car accident and sometimes feels sad and lonely. Jana lives with her divorcee mother, a lawyer who is rarely at home. Natasha comes from Latvia. Her parents initially have very strict rules in terms of her education, that make Natasha unhappy. Fiete has problems showing his feelings and hides them behind grumpiness and hostility towards girls, until he falls in love with Natasha. Vivi is suffering from her role of the youngest member of the group. She believes that she must constantly struggle for recognition.
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The Peppercorns - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Katharina Mestre
Main Cast
- Aglaja Brix
- Elyza Silber
- Luna Winter
- Tim Tiedemann
- Aurelia Stern
- Bruno Alexander
- Carolin Garnier
- Otto von Grevenmoor
- Piet Puddu
- Marlene von Appen
Writers
- Jörg Reiter
- Anja Jabs
- Katharina Mestre
- Andrea Katzenberger
- Katja Kittendorf
The Peppercorns - FAQs
Where can you watch The Peppercorns online?
The Peppercorns is available to stream in select regions. You can compare all current viewing options, including any subscription or rental platforms available in your country, by checking JustWatch. Availability may vary depending on your location.
How many seasons does The Peppercorns have?
The Peppercorns has 21 seasons, with each season consisting of 13 episodes. The series has accumulated 273 episodes in total since its debut in December 1999, making it one of the longest-running German children's detective shows.
Is The Peppercorns still being made in 2025?
Yes, The Peppercorns is still in production. The series holds a 'Returning Series' status and its 21st season aired in 2025, confirming that the show continues to produce new episodes for its loyal audience on NDR Fernsehen and KiKa.
What is The Peppercorns about?
The Peppercorns follows five young friends from Hamburg who operate as junior detectives from a spice warehouse in the city's historic warehouse district. Together they expose polluters, animal dealers, and smugglers, while also navigating personal challenges and friendships.
Who are the main actors in The Peppercorns?
The series features Aglaja Brix, Elyza Silber, Luna Winter, Tim Tiedemann, Aurelia Stern, Bruno Alexander, Carolin Garnier, Otto von Grevenmoor, Piet Puddu, and Marlene von Appen among its principal cast members across its many seasons.
What genre is The Peppercorns?
The Peppercorns blends Action, Adventure, Kids, Family, and Crime genres. It is primarily a children's detective series that combines age-appropriate mystery-solving with personal storylines, making it accessible and engaging for young audiences and family viewers alike.
When did The Peppercorns first air?
The Peppercorns first aired on December 27, 1999, in Germany and several other countries including the United States, Italy, and Spain. The series debuted on NDR Fernsehen and has since expanded its broadcast to KiKa and Das Erste.
Who created The Peppercorns TV series?
The Peppercorns was created by Katharina Mestre. The series is produced by Studio Hamburg and Letterbox Filmproduktion, and has been broadcast on NDR Fernsehen, KiKa, and Das Erste throughout its more than two-decade run.
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