[Sca-cooks] How long does pepper retain its potency?

[Robin Carroll-Mann]

This is for a silly bit of fiction, so no urgency. . .

Would a well-sealed cask of black peppercorns retain any potency after
5 or 6 centuries?  Would it still have an odor?  Make people sneeze?
Or would it just be a pile of funny-shaped pebbles?

It would be nice if it was still sneeze-worthy, but if not, I can
write around that.

Brighid ni Chiarain