Allspice

Have you always thought that “allspice” was merely a combination of many spices? If you did, you are not alone. Although many people believe that allspice consists of a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, allspice is actually only one type of spice. Allspice is also known as Jamaica pepper, Myrtle pepper, Pimento, and Newspice. In fact, the name “allspice” came from English travelers who thought that the spice tasted like a variety of other spices, otherwise allspice would have remained “Jamaica pepper.”

Allspice comes from the Pimenta dioica plant, and it is one spice that comes directly from the Caribbean. Thanks to Christopher Columbus (who was, incidentally, searching for a pepper), allspice became part of Spanish cooking and it was a large part of European fare for many years. Prior to World War II, allspice was a common ingredient in many American dishes, but during the war many trees that produced allspice were burned, and since that time the crop of allspice has never been fully replenished. Today, most allspice comes from Jamaica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, though the Jamaican variety is the most sought after for its superior quality.

When it comes to Caribbean cuisine, allspice is the lifeblood of Caribbean jerk – one of the most popular types of Caribbean food. Allspice combines the flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in order to produce a flavor that is both aromatic and distinct. Often, the wood from the allspice tree is used in order to provide smoke for jerk, and this makes Caribbean jerk what it is today. So, the next time that someone tries to tell you that allspice is just a combination of spices, remember that this type of spice comes from one, lone, tree.