Pseudowintera is a genus of woody evergreen flowering trees and shrubs, part of family Winteraceae.

[2] Horopito spreads naturally through regrowth on cleared land but may often be found in domestic gardens as a decorative plant.

[4] Horopito contains a substance called sesquiterpene dialdehyde polygodiali, otherwise known as polygodial that has a number of biological properties including antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and insecticide effects.

[5][6] Horopito was used traditionally by Maori for a variety of medicinal purposes including treatment of: fungal skin infection, stomach pain, diarrhoea and as an analgesic.

The powder may be used wherever black pepper is used and applied directly to meats, mixed with oils, used to make condiments (e.g. with mustard), in vinegars, biscuits and even ice-cream.