Allspice, Whole

Allspice has a flavor reminiscent of cloves, cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg. Allspice is not a mixture or blend of several different spices. It is in fact the dried berries of the "Pimenta dioica" tree, which are available to us in the whole berry form or as a ground powder. The berries are a reddish brown colour after drying and are slightly larger than peppercorns.

Cooking Ideas

You can use it in spice cakes, puddings, cookies, gravies, bbq sauce and is a key ingredient in Caribbean jerk dishes. It is often used in German sausages and is so common in English baking that it's sometimes known as English Spice. Allspice is famous for being the main ingredient of the Caribbean "jerk" seasoning, a marinade mixture, which is used to flavour meats and poultry, especially pork and chicken. The meat is marinated in the spicy seasoning and then cooked over an open fire, where allspice branches are used for the firewood.

Health Benefits

• This food is low in Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Iron, Magnesium, Potassium and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Calcium and Manganese.
• When added to foods that are difficult to digest, such as proteins and fats or foods that may cause bloating and flatulence, such as cauliflower, cabbage and beans, allspice can aid digestion and relieve any discomfort that is associated with indigestion.
• Medical research has found that allspice has similar properties to cloves. It has a high eugenol content meaning that it is highly bacterial and it also has mild anaesthetic properties.
• Perhaps more importantly, allspice has proved to be very beneficial in the treatment of arthritic and rheumatic pains and other muscular and joint problems. This is because it acts as a rubefacient, which is a substance that when applied to an affected area draws out the inflammation and increases the blood supply to it, giving a warming and calming effect.

How to Store

Stored in an airtight glass jar out of the sunlight in a cool, dry place.