[/caption]AAllspice is the berry of an evergreen tree in the family of trees known as evergreens trees. In Latin allspice is called Pimento Officianalis or Pimento Diocia. It is a dark round somewhat hard berry when it is dried and has the wonderful aroma of all spices! This spice is indicative of the regions of Jamaica, Guatemala and The Honduras. You may have used allspice in your kitchen before or had it in something that you have eaten like pumpkin pie, but it is a major constituent in the making of jerk seasonings and some curries. It is a spice that in it's whole form is also used in the process of pickling foods. Allspice is just about all present these days as it can be found in just about anything from the teas that you drink to the main dishes and deserts that you eat.
It is a pungent spice and you can have twenty people lined up in your kitchen and have them smell some and just about each person will tell you that they smell something different. I think someone put allspice on the planet to confuse our olfactory senses is what I think! For most of us the taste of allspice is very reminiscent of cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves. Before I really got into cooking I thought cloves was something that was used to make Djarum cigarettes. Go figure!
Allspice goes a long way back in our history in western civilization. It was during the voyages of discovery that Christopher Columbus discovered allspice in the Caribbean. At that time he was on a search for pepper and he found allspice instead. In the Caribbean islands they call allspice "pimienta." Pimienta stands for pepper. So he took the spice home with him to Spain. In America we call pimienta, pimento. In herb lore allspice was said to give relief from digestive issues such and bloating and gas. That's a good thing in my book! If you have allspice in your home it is best to store it in a cool dark place that does not get above 70-75 degrees. Allspice is very versatile as stated it is used in main dishes and deserts and is one of those spices that is excellent in both savory and sweet dishes. It is this versatility that makes allspice so popular today. Allspice has been called by many names such as: clove pepper, new spice, myrtle pepper, and Jamaican pepper. I am sure it is called by these different names as a matter of region or country.
In herbal remedy circles allspice is used for it's supposed healing properties. It contains an oil called Eugenol and it is said to have antiseptic qualities. It has supposedly been used in relieving pain and there have been some studies that the oil in allspice can be used to combat certain types of viruses, fungi, and bacteria. In other areas of alternative medicine the oil of allspice, the Eugenol has been suggested for use in fighting toothaches. Allspice has also been suggested in some traditions as a good remedy for muscle aches and pain by mixing allspice with water to form a paste and placing that paste on the affected area. One should be very careful if using the oil (Eugenol) of allspice as it can irritate your skin. It is suggested that you do not take this oil internally unless otherwise prescribed by a health care professional and of course remember that some people can also be allergic to allspice.
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