The dried unripe berries of
Allspice is one of the most important ingredients of Jamaican Cuisine. Under the name pimento, it is used in Jamaican jerk seasoning, and traditionally its wood was used to smoke jerk in Jamaica. In the West Indies, an allspice liqueur is produced under the name "pimento dram".
Allspice is the dried, unripe berry (fruit) of Pimenta dioica, the Jamaican allspice tree. Also known as Jamaica pepper, pimento or even myrtle pepper, it pretty much resembles large peppercorns, with a smooth husk, and leaning towards a dark brown hue.
What's the Difference Between Jamaican, Guatemalan and Mexican Allspice? Jamaican Allspice has the highest volatile oil content, and because of that has long been considered to be best quality allspice in the world. Mexican Allspice berries are the largest and have the darkest color.
Updated: Feb 15, 2022. Pimento seed in Jamaica refers to the dried unripe fruit of the Pimenta dioica tree, which is a native evergreen shrub found in all 14 parishes. It's also known as allspice, pimenta, Jamaica pepper, or myrtle pepper and can be found throughout certain parts of the Caribbean and Central America.
Allspice, also commonly known as pimento, is prized for its complex and versatile flavor. Tasting like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, the humble brown berry is essential in Caribbean and Middle Eastern cooking, and popular in many European style dishes as well.
To most English speaking people the tree is called "pimento" and the berries "allspice". The name allspice originated from the popular notion that the pimento berry contains the characteristic flavour and aroma of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper, all combined in one spice.
Pimenta dioica, commonly called allspice or Jamaica pepper, is native to the West Indies, Mexico and Central America. It is a small evergreen tree that typically grows from 20-40' tall.
Monisha Bharadwaj is probably right to say in The Indian Kitchen that allspice is "sometimes the secret, magic ingredient that gives a scent of heaven to north Indian curries and biryanis." Part of the problem with allspice in India is its name, which is usually given as kababchini.
While allspice is a spice on its own, not a blend, it's very easy to create a similar-tasting mixture with spices you already have in your kitchen. Whisk 3½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1¼ teaspoons ground nutmeg and a pinch of ground cloves, then use as a 1:1 replacement for ground allspice in a recipe.
Also known as a Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, or pimento, allspice is the unripe fruit of the Pimenta dioica, an evergreen tree in the Myrtle family native to the West Indies, Southern Mexico, and Central America.
Allspice gets its name because its scent is a blend of spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Although true allspice stands on its own, it's easy to mimic this complex flavor if you don't have allspice on hand. It can be added to savory and sweet dishes alike for a fragrance and flavor all its own!
Is allspice the same as 7 spice? No, allspice is a single berry with a combination of flavors akin to cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. I often tell people to use ground allspice in place of Lebanese 7 spice when it isn't available.
Allspice was originally native to the tropical forests of South and Central America, southern Mexico and the West Indies. Allspice is grown commercially in Mexico, Honduras, Trinidad, Cuba and in Jamaica.
It consists of a combination of pimento, cinnamon, nutmeg, anise powder and dried orange peel. It is the essential blend for several traditional Jamaican baked goods.
Ingredients In Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Spices – Cumin, nutmeg, allspice, smoked paprika, cinnamon. Heat – Red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper. Sugar – Just some brown sugar for a well rounded depth of flavor. Seasoning – Salt and pepper.
Allspice is the dried brown berry of the tropical Pimenta dioica tree, a clove relative native to the West Indies and Central America. It got its name in the 17th century, when allspice berries were first imported to Europe, since it's said to taste like a combination of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Apparently, this got its name from the way it manages to smell like a combination of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg – sweet and dry, all at once.
Authentic Caribbean Food is Traditionally Hot
Caribbean food is traditionally served with plenty of spice. Staples such as Crab and Callaloo come loaded with allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and chiles. You'll find many of these same spices in other dishes from the region.
Jamaica is the home of spices and herbs like saltfish, scotch bonnets, root ginger, pimento, and so on. Usually, in a Jamaican-themed kitchen, you will find seasonings like Jamaican jerk seasoning spice or green seasoning. In all, green seasoning stands out for its exotic flavor.
Allspice is the dried berry of the West Indian allspice tree and it looks like a large, smooth peppercorn. In India, there are a few trees in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Allspice is also known as Jamaican pepper or pimento because it tastes like a combination of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and pepper.
Differences in Flavor and Aroma
Allspice and cloves bring unique flavors and aromas to dishes. While allspice delivers a warm, sweet, and slightly peppery taste, cloves offer a more intense, sweet, and slightly bitter profile. The aroma of allspice can be described as a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
allspice, (Pimenta dioica), also called Jamaican pepper or pimento, tropical evergreen tree of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) and its berries, the source of a highly aromatic spice.