What is Allspice? What Can I Substitute for it?

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Allspice is the dried unripened fruit of an evergreen plant in the Myrtle family called Pimienta dioca. It is commonly called the pimento tree. The tree is indigenous to Central America and grows from Southern Mexico to Panama and throughout the Caribbean. Other names for the spice is Jamaican pepper, clove pepper, pimento, and English spice.

Although dried allspice berries may resemble peppercorns, the spice is not related to black peppercorns at all. The picture below is a closeup photo of dried allspice berries.

Once dried and cured, the whole spice is certainly reminiscent of a peppercorn, which caused Spanish explorers to call it dulce pimienta, later Anglicized to pimento. In many languages, it is known as pepper.

In French, the spice is called poivre aromatique: aromatic pepper; in German, Nelkenpfeffer: clove pepper. Also, it is often called Jamaican pepper. ¹

Pimienta dioica tree, or Allspice tree — **Pimienta dioca tree, Allspice**
image by J.M.Garg via wikimedia

Despite the name, allspice is not a combination of all the spices, but it does have a flavor that is reminiscent of several important aromatic spices, including cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper.

In America, this flavor combination makes allspice a favorite addition to fruit pies like apple and especially pumpkin. It is also a primary ingredient in Jamaican jerk seasoning or paste. It is popular in British, Scandinavian, German, North African, and American cooking. It is not typically used in Asian cooking. It is used in sausages, as well as stews, and sauces.

Allspice is sometimes used in ketchup and in jams. Some people use it with baked ham and it goes well with any smoked meat, including pork, beef, and fish. Mexican moles sometimes feature allspice. Allspice is also frequently found in liqueurs, including Jamaican pimento dram. It is typically used ground.

What Spices Go Well with Allspice?

Allspice works well combined with cumin, cinnamon, and cloves. It is also harmonious when used in dishes that feature any of the following flavors:

cardamon
ginger
coriander seed
fennel seed
mustard seed

How Should Allspice Be Stored?

For the longest shelf-life, purchase allspice as whole berries and grind when needed using a coffee grinder. If you buy it ground, it may last longer if kept in the refrigerator.

Some of the best allspice comes from Jamaica, where, as mentioned, it is an important culinary spice. ² So, if you have a choice, buy a Jamaican variety.

The Spice Way Allspice – Whole (4 oz) a multipurpose berry for curries, sauces, soups and even pastries

ALLSPICE WHOLE - adds depth to many dishes, savory and sweet.
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The ground or whole spice is readily available in grocery stores so there is no need to substitute other spices unless you are in a pinch.

Allspice Substitute

In that case, you can use around one part each of ground cinnamon and cloves, plus a pinch of nutmeg and pepper, adjusting as needed for desired flavor.

Do not use too much nutmeg, as it is extremely strong and will overwhelm a dish if used in excess.

Why is it Called Allspice?

The name allspice was coined by English botanist John Ray, because the flavor reminded him of a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. There is also a hint of pepper.

Allspice is a common ingredient in smoked meats, pumpkin pie, and a central component of Jamaican jerk. It is also used in Scandinavian pickled herring and is common in Arabic cooking, flavoring rice dishes, kofte, and broths. ³ ⁴ All parts of the tree itself also gives off the same aromas and the leaves and bark can be used to flavor foods as well. ⁵

Jamaican dram (pimento dram) — **Jamaican (pimento) dram**

Allspice has traditionally been used to flavor beverages, as well. It is used in a Jamaican liqueur called Pimento Dram, which is made by soaking the berries in rum and adding a sweetener. This liqueur is hard to find today, except in Jamaica.

However, an imported brand, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram is available ⁶ The Aztecs and Mayans flavored their chocolate drinks with the spice. ⁷ See What is a Dram?

Historical and Other Uses Throughout the World

Allspice is popular in Western cuisines like British, Scandinavian, German and American as well as North African, the Middle East and, of course, Caribbean cooking. It is not popular in Asian cooking, however. Some of it’s uses include:

Preserving meats – Caribbeans and Indigenous Americans and also learned by the Spanish explorers to those regions
Caribbean jerk, curries
Smoked and barbecued meat, used by Caribbean pirates in their boucan
As part of a spice blend for pickling or as part of a marinate for meats
Scandinavian meat patties and sausages
British stews, sauces, and pickled vegetables, mincemeats, cakes, puddings, sausages and cured meats
North Africa – Ethiopian berbere and Moroccan ras-el-hanout
Middle East – stews, kibbeh, and rice pilafs
Mexico – Some mole sauces in Oaxaca, Mexico
Some fish curries in Kerala, India
ketchup
jams
ham
gravies ⁸