Allspice, known by the Latin botanical name of Pimenta dioica, comes from the Pimenta tree and is the unripe fruit that are dried and crafted into different forms. Allspice is used primarily as a cooking spice. Most notably, it has earned its reputation as one of the most important ingredients of Caribbean cuisine. It is commonly used in jerk seasoning, pickling spices, curry powders, and can be found in desserts and cakes. It may also provide an analgesic effect and has been used as a digestive aid. The tannins in allspice provide a mild anesthetic that provide warming effect, making it popular for use on arthritis and sore muscles. Starwest Botanicals offers ground allspice, whole allspice, as well as organic and kosher forms of this favorite spice in bulk form.
Allspice has a wide variety of uses in foods. It can be used in both sweet and savory recipes, and many different cultural cuisines apply it lavishly to dress their dishes. It can be added to gravy that is served alongside your holiday turkey or ham. Pork roasts benefit from a marinade that includes garlic and this spice, and Caribbean jerk recipes for beef and chicken often call for it. Spice cookies utilize it to give the sweets a bit of a kick, and it often makes its way into spiced nuts, along with sugar that caramelizes the spices around the nuts.
You can buy organic Allspice in convenient pouches or jars from Starwest Botanicals, a certified bulk herbs processor that offers the highest quality spices and herbs at great prices with excellent customer service. See our complete line of organic spices in jars and pouches.