What Is Allspice?
Allspice is one of the most flexible and complex spices in my cabinet. Its multi-layered flavor, which is reminiscent of cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper, lends itself just as well to a sweet spiced cocktail as it does to jerk chicken. Here, we break down everything you need to know about this versatile spice.
What Is Allspice?
Also known as Jamaica pepper or pimento, allspice is the small, unripe berry of the pimento tree, which grows in tropical climates. It is not a blend of spices, as its name might imply. The berries are fully dried before being packaged and sold either whole or ground. It can then be used to flavor both savory and sweet dishes and is a staple in a variety of cuisines including Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Latin American.
What Does Allspice Taste Like?
Allspice has a complex, warm flavor with notes of clove, nutmeg, fennel, anise, and black pepper.
Whole Allspice
Whole dried allspice berries can be used to flavor liquidy dishes like soups and stews, added to pickling liquid or brine, or used in spice blends for warm drinks. Their strong flavor is best in dishes where the berries can steep, letting it permeate an entire dish.
Ground Allspice
More versatile, but less intense than whole berries, ground allspice is easily incorporated into a wide variety of dishes. It can be used in a marinade for meat, folded into baked goods like pumpkin pie or gingerbread cookies, and mixed with other spices to create classic blends like jerk seasoning, pumpkin pie spice, or shawarma seasoning.
Allspice Substitutes
A mix of equal parts ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves is a good substitute for ground allspice. If you don’t have all three, you can substitute cloves, nutmeg, or cinnamon, either on their own or in any combination. You can also substitute a spice blend that contains allspice, like pumpkin pie spice or chai spice.