Épices Rœllinger Pepper Cousins<Allspice

Christopher Columbus dubbed allspice ‘Jamaican pepper’ because he was convinced it was a true peppercorn. English cooks quickly adopted the spice wonder. 

Allspice berries (Pimenta dioica) are also called ‘myrtle pepper’ ‘pimenta’ and occasionally ‘four-spice pepper’ because they taste like a combination of pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. 

The 5mm berries ripen on trees with large, shiny leaves. They are gathered while they are still green, then dried in the sun for several days when they turn a reddish-brown. Allspice berries are native to Central America and the Antilles. They are also cultivated in Honduras and Mexico and have made their way to southern India.