Allspice, ground

Allspice, also called pimenta, Jamaica pimenta, or myrtle pepper is the dried unripe fruit (berries, used as a spice) of Pimenta dioica, a midcanopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico, and Central America, now cultivated in many warm parts of the world. The name "allspice" was coined as early as 1621 by the English, who thought it combined the flavour of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Several unrelated fragrant shrubs are called "Carolina allspice" (Calycanthus floridus), "Japanese allspice" (Chimonanthus praecox), or "wild allspice" (Lindera benzoin). "Allspice" is also sometimes used to refer to the herb costmary (Tanacetum balsamita). Also Known As: Jamaica Pepper, English Spice and Myrtle Pepper

Taste/Aroma: Strong, sweet and fragrant. A mix between cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Uses: Caribbean jerk dishes, desserts, cakes, pudding and certain curry powders.

Substitutes: Allspice Berries, Mace Ground, Cloves or Cinnamon

Fun Fact: 18th century Russian soldiers often used Allspice as a deodorant, rubbing it all over their bodies

• packaged in a small ziplock