allspice

Pimenta dioica

Allspice is an evergreen tree native to Central and South America. It is also known as Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, and newspice. Allspice has glossy, dark green leaves, and produces small, round yellow flowers. Its fruit is a small, reddish berry that ripens to a dark purple-brown color, and contains two seeds. The fruit is dried, and ground up for use as a spice. Allspice has a pungent aroma, with flavors of pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and is widely used in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. It can also be used in baking, to make jams and jellies, or to flavor meat dishes.