All About Allspice

One of the most important spices used in Caribbean cooking is known as allspice. Sometimes it's called pimento and Jamaica pepper. Allspice consists of little sun-dried berries from the Pimenta dioica plant, usually picked when they are green an unripe. When they have been tried, they resemble brown peppercorns. In fact, Christopher Columbus himself mistook allspice for pepper. Pimienta, one of allspice's other names, actually means "pepper" in Spanish.

Allspice has a distinctive aroma. It's not uncommon for people to mistake allspice as a mixture of different spices, because it smells like a combination of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Allspice grows in Mexico and Honduras, but it thrives best in Jamaica. It is widely agreed that Jamaica-grown allspice is best, because it has a high oil content that enhances the flavor.

Caribbean cooking calls for allspice quite a bit. In particular, it is one of the most important ingredients in Caribbean jerk seasoning. It's also used in Caribbean stews and soups. Although allspice is perhaps most popular in the Caribbean, it is used heavily in other parts of the world too-- notably the Middle East. Allspice is also frequently a component in curry powder.

There are all kinds of ways to use allspice. You can use it as a substitute for cloves; you can use it in oatmeal cookies or applesauce; it can even jazz up an otherwise basic meatloaf.

If you're thinking about trying your hand at Caribbean cuisine, then allspice is an absolute must for your spice cabinet. You'll find that lots of Caribbean recipes call for allspice.