Most of the time you really should use freshly ground pepper as the taste is immensely better. However, there are occasions when you want the pepper pieces to be of a uniform size and where the taste differential between freshly ground and pre-ground will not be noticeable (for example, in peppering outside surfaces of roasts). The Spice Islands fine ground black pepper is the best of the ones I've encountered. However, you rearely, if ever, find it in supermarkets and, hence, online markets such as Amazon are a convenient means of purchasing this product.;The best. The Spice Island Company began in South San Francisco and has made quality herb and spices for years. I don't why it is hard to locate there products any more but I will go to any length to find them. Amazon's vender was ther for me. Now I have to find their Beef Stock Base--unbeatable.