Premium Whole Allspice
Jamaican Allspice is a small dried berry that boasts a flavor reminiscent of a combination of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. While often mistakenly believed to be a combination of different spices, this individual spice is a true natural phenomenon.
Suggested uses
Basic prep
Ready to use. Add to taste. Can be ground in pepper mill.
Storage & handling
Store in cool, dry place.
Ingredients
Allspice.
Jamaican Allspice, or "Eugenia pimenta," is the spherical dried berry from the evergreen pimiento tree. Its name derives from the Spanish explorers who thought the dried berries resembled peppercorns and called them "pimenta," or pepper. While it is produced in many countries throughout the world, Jamaica is the largest producer and is known for its premium quality due to a higher level of essential oils within the plant.
While it is its own unique, individual spice, it contains flavor notes reminiscent of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, giving it the name "allspice." It is extremely versatile, finding its way into sweet and savory cuisine through its varied notes. While Europeans and people of North America primarily use it for baking, Caribbean cuisine finds it most useful in the common "jerk" seasoning to balance out heat and add sweet, earthy depth.
Jamaican Allspice is not only used for its culinary versatility, but for treatment of digestive ailments. It is also known to improve appetite through its active amount of phenol eugenol, a gentle numbing compound that was historically used by dentists. Its warming effects are also often used externally to relieve chest infections, arthritis and flu symptoms.
Classic recipe
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Capture the bold, spicy-sweet flavor of authentic jerk-style cooking with this fiery marinade. Lime juice and apple cider vinegar lend a tangy note and blazing hot Scotch Bonnet chiles turn up the heat, while our Jamaican Jerk Seasoning provides the authentic flavors.