While every spice has a tale, this is the story of long pepper, which rose to prominence during medieval times. In fact, by the time the Roman Empire was trending, long pepper was so valuable that it was worth more than gold. While the two are related, long pepper should not be confused with the ubiquitous and instrumental spice known as black pepper, which comes from ball-shaped peppercorns. Long pepper is derived from what resembles a mini pinecone and is known as a catkin. They can be ground up or used whole and offer a warm, pungent taste that is both spicy and peppery.