The Peppercorns
Season 22
Created by: Katharina Mestre
Network: NDR Fernsehen, KiKa, Das Erste
Season aired: 2026-03-21
Seasons
Overview
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.
Episodes · 10
Tick Tack
Fifth-graders are behaving strangely, then the supposed perpetrators become victims. The Peppercorn Gang investigates under time pressure.
A matter of trust
Malfunction or sabotage? After water damage in Fariba's warehouse, the Peppercorn Gang uncovers dark dealings.
Scholar's mate
Jules suspects foul play at his chess tournament. The Peppercon Gang investigates, and indeed, cheating has occurred. However, it's not the kind of cheating they suspected.
Together
A young refugee is suspected of stealing a donation. The Peppercorn Gang fights against prejudice and finds the real thief.
Aftermath
Taara is caught in a robbery and is shocked. Her friends try to solve the case. Why did apprentice Maja give a false alibi?
The missing money
Donated funds are disappearing from the teachers' lounge. Two classmates are blackmailing Linn; did she take the money in her desperation?
The scent of agarwood
A groundbreaking perfume invention is sabotaged. The Peppercorn Gang uses their keen sense of smell to solve the case.
Love whomever you want.
Kofi witnesses an act of violence against a queer teenager. The Peppercorn Gang investigates undercover – but then Kofi is kidnapped.
Once a gangster, always a gangster
Piet falls into a trap. He's supposed to break into a house – and then he reveals himself to his friends. They come up with a daring plan.
White powder in HQ
Cocaine in mangoes! The last case of this Peppercorn generation involves drugs, a kidnapped bagel, and a new arrival at HQ.