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Sichuan pepper is not related to the black pepper, but it has similar qualities and has a following among foodies. It's generally much spicier, has a floral scent and a numbing taste. Similar peppers are found from the Himalayas to Japan.

The great advantage of Sichuan pepper over black pepper is that it can be grown in European climates. It is in fact grown in gardens in England by enthusiasts. So why didn't this catch on centuries earlier, perhaps it was just from a more isolated part of the world? But what if it did spread to Europe, via the Mongols perhaps, how would that impact trade and the Age of Discovery?

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