Allspice

Allspice, also called Jamaica Pepper, is the dried, mature, unripe fruit of Pimenta dioica, a mid-canopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico, and Central America, and is now cultivated in many warm parts of the world. It was named in 1621 by the English who thought it combined the flavor of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, but also carried its own unique taste. It is often used in puddings and pies and is an important ingredient in Caribbean Jerk Seasonings as well as commercial sausage preparations.

Allspice is one of the most important ingredients of Caribbean cuisine. It is used in Caribbean jerk seasoning (the wood is used to smoke jerk in Jamaica, although the spice is a good substitute), in moles, and in pickling; it is also an ingredient in commercial sausage preparations and curry powders.