Allspice

Allspice - Photo by Steven Jackson

Allspice is the dried fruit of Pimenta dioica. It combines the smell and taste of several spices including cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper.

Names

Scientific
   Pimenta dioica
English
   Allspice
   Jamaica pepper
   Newspice
Dutch
   Allspice
   Jamaicapeper
   Nagelpeper
   Piment
   Pimentbes
Spanish
   Pimienta de Jamaica
   Pimienta gorda
French
   Piment de la Jamaïque
   Poivre de la jamaïque
German
   Nelkenpfeffer
   Piment
Italian
   Pepe garofanato
   Pepe giamaicano
   Pimento

Taxonomy

Genus
   Pimenta
Family
   Myrtaceae
Order
   Myrtales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Allspice originates from Central America and the Caribbean.

Distribution:

Allspice is cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions.

Evergreen or deciduous:

Evergeen

Climate and weather:

Grows in warm tropical and subtropical climates.

Height:

Allspice is an evergreen tree which can be 10 to 18 meters tall. Sometimes it stays smaller as a shrub.

Spacing:

Propagation:

Allspice is difficult to propagate but can be grown from seed. Sometimes by grafting and budding.

Harvesting:

Fruits are harvested when still green and unripe and are then dried in the sun. The dried fruits are brown and look like large brown peppercorns.

Uses:

Allspice is an important spice in the Caribbean kitchen.
Allspice can be used as an ingredient in cakes and sauces.
Fresh leaves are also used in cooking.