In the medieval era, its fame as a spice attracted traders from all part of the world. The "40 mesh" designation means that the particles can pass through a sieve with 40 openings per inch. This results in a moderately coarse grind, allowing for a good balance of flavor release without being overly fine. A pinch of Black Pepper, with its strong and pungent flavor and pronounced heat, is added to almost every type of recipe imaginable! It is a generic seasoning used along with salt and is best when freshly ground. On the Scoville scale, which measures the heat of peppers, black pepper scores quite low—typically around 0 to 100 SHU (Scoville Heat Units)