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Allspice

Spices & seasonings · Whole spices

Allspice

Dried Jamaican berry that tastes like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg combined; used whole or ground.

Also called: pimento, yenibahar, jamaican pepper

A kind of spices

51 recipes with it

Read the full spice guide: flavour, history and how to use it

Photo: Miansari66, via Wikimedia Commons (public-domain)

What it is

Allspice (pimento) is the dried unripe berry of a Caribbean tree, like a large smooth brown peppercorn. Its aroma suggests cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg at once, hence the name; it is a single spice, not a blend. It is used whole in pickles and stews or ground in baking and rubs.

Pimenta dioica

How it’s used

  • Jamaican jerk seasoning
  • Middle Eastern rice, kibbeh and stuffings
  • Pickling and brines
  • Christmas cakes and puddings
  • Swedish meatballs

Characteristics

Taste
Warm, sweet, clove-like with peppery notes.
Sold as
whole, ground
Cooking uses
Mainly a seasoning, Suitable for baking

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Airtight jar away from light; whole berries keep longer than ground.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
263 kcal
Protein
6.09 g
Carbohydrate
72.12 g
Fat
8.69 g
Fibre
21.6 g
Sugars
— g

USDA FoodData Central: Spices, allspice, ground.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves — Mix 2 parts cinnamon to 1 each nutmeg and cloves, by volume.

Related ingredients

Recipes with allspice

See all 51

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