>>23248386The flavor of pepper is in the oil located inside of the peppercorn. When ground that oil is exposed and starts to evaporate. It isn't evaporated quickly, mind you, however most pre-ground pepper is too finely ground and has been sitting around long enough that its flavor is noticeably diminished. The same is true for while bean vs pre-ground coffee.
It isn't a massive difference but you will notice the difference in taste and especially the smell if you spend time cooking. If you are someone who smokes (pot, cigarettes, etc) or drinks a lot of sugary drinks, coffee, or alcohol, odds are low you will notice any difference because your sense of taste is diminished.
>>23248377Long pepper was grown in Europe and honestly has a better flavor. Pepper wasn't the big spice being traded, just a byproduct of all the other stuff. Hell, saffron is still more expensive by weight than literal gold.
