They had a pepper blend when the recipe called for (I assume) straight spices and probably mortaring it all together.
Going through so much effort to match the source material but not the minimal additional step to source the proper ingredients (which have not at all disappeared and are easily obtainable) is weird.
I call it the artistic dilettante last 5% laziness effect. As an artistic dilettante you make it mainly all done to your satisfaction but you don't sweat the final details which is for the small people to do, because, while you are totally focused and energetic until nearly done that last little bit makes you extremely lazy.
Going through so much effort to match the source material but not the minimal additional step to source the proper ingredients (which have not at all disappeared and are easily obtainable) is weird.