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THE CHEF ENCYCLOPEDIA:
Culinary Herb & Spice Reference Guide
Allspice
[also Pimento, or Jamaica Pepper]
(Pimenta dioica)
Family: Myrataceae
Native to the West Indies and the rainforests of South and Central America
where it grows wild, Pimenta dioica is an evergreen tree about 30 feet
high. Allspice is the dried full-grown, but immature fruit from the
tree. Most of the indigenous trees were cut down to harvest the berries
and few remain today. The trees are grown in Jamaica, where they flourish
best on limestone hills near the sea. Named for its versatile nature,
Allspice is mildly pungent and aromatic and tastes like a combination
of cloves, juniper berries, cinnamon and pepper. Available whole or
powdered, it is used in baking, pickling and savory dishes, and for
flavoring pickles, ketchup, sausages, gravies, fruit cakes, and pies.
Allspice is also an important ingredient in Chartreuse and Benedictine
liqueurs.
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