Order Piperales, also known as the pepper family, is a group of flowering plants characterized by their distinctive peppery taste and aroma. Some popular synonyms for this order include the Piperaceae family and the black pepper family. The order includes over 5,000 species of plants that are widely distributed throughout the world and are often used for medicinal or culinary purposes. Some well-known members of the Order Piperales include Piper nigrum (black pepper), Piper methysticum (kava), and Peperomia caperata (emerald ripple peperomia). With their unique flavor profile and diverse uses, Order Piperales remains an important plant group for food, medicine, and horticulture.