Pepper is grown in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil. Pepper has been an important spice since Roman times, and was one of the earliest commodities traded Asia and Europe. In fact, during the Middle Ages, Europeans often used pepper to pay debts and taxes. Black pepper has a sharp, pungent aroma and flavour while white pepper is hotter, less subtle and mildly fermented. Pepper is found next to salt on most every table and is used to flavour all types of dishes in cuisines.