Allspice

"All spice" redirects here. For all spices, see List of culinary herbs and spices.

Allspice
Illustration of twig, flowers, and fruits
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Pimenta
Species:
P. dioica
Binomial name
Pimenta dioica
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Caryophyllus pimenta (L.) Mill.
    • Eugenia micrantha Bertol.
    • Eugenia pimenta (L.) DC.
    • Evanesca crassifolia Raf. nom. illeg.
    • Evanesca micrantha Bertol.
    • Myrtus aromatica Poir. nom. illeg.
    • Myrtus aromatica Salisb. nom. illeg.
    • Myrtus dioica L.
    • Myrtus pimenta L.
    • Myrtus piperita Sessé & Moc.
    • Pimenta aromatica Kostel. nom. illeg.
    • Pimenta communis Benth. & Hook.f.
    • Pimenta officinalis Lindl.
    • Pimenta pimenta (L.) H.Karst. nom. inval.
    • Pimenta vulgaris Bello
    • Pimenta vulgaris Lindl.
    • Pimentus aromatica Raf. nom. illeg.
    • Pimentus geminata Raf.
    • Pimentus vera Raf. nom. illeg.
Piment flower
Piment flower in Uaxactún, north of Tikal National Park, Guatemala

Allspice, also known as Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, or pimento,[a] is the dried unripe berry 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.[3] The name allspice was coined as early as 1621 by the English, who valued it as a spice that combined the flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.[4] Contrary to common knowledge, it is not a mixture of spices.[5]

Several unrelated fragrant shrubs are called "Carolina allspice" (Calycanthus floridus), "Japanese allspice" (Chimonanthus praecox), or "wild allspice" (Lindera benzoin).

  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Pimenta dioica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T103121329A150119410. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T103121329A150119410.en. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  3. ^ Riffle, Robert L. (1 August 1998). The Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants. Timber Press. ISBN 978-0-88192-422-0.
  4. ^ Oxford English Dictionary (2 ed.). Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. 1 March 1989. ISBN 978-0-19-861186-8. Archived from the original on 25 June 2006. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  5. ^ Francis, Ali (1 December 2021). "Allspice Is the Berry—Yes, Berry—That Can Do It All". Bon Appetit. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.


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