Whole Allspice 70g
Περιγραφή
Allspice comes from the dried, aromatic berries of an evergreen tree called Pimenta dioica, native to the Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Central America. Columbus discovered it in Jamaica and mistakenly thought he had found pepper, since allspice berries resemble peppercorns. The Spanish called the tree pimienta (pepper), and later the name changed to Jamaica pimento. It eventually took its name from its country of origin, and it was believed that the plant could not grow anywhere else.
Today, allspice cultivation has spread from the Caribbean islands to the Pacific Ocean and the Hawaiian Islands. The berries are harvested from plantations while still green and unripe. They are then left to dry until the seeds inside rattle beneath the husk when shaken. Dried allspice ranges in color from reddish brown to dark brown and in size from 4 to 7 millimeters. Allspice resembles black pepper in appearance.
The aroma of allspice is why it is called “allspice.” It smells like a combination of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and contains the essential oil eugenol, which is also found in clove wood. It has a rich aroma and a spicy, pungent flavor. Long before Columbus discovered it, the indigenous people of the Caribbean islands used allspice to preserve meat and fish. Today, it remains an important ingredient in Caribbean and Jamaican cuisine, and is found in various spice blends used as marinades for meat, chicken, and fish. Allspice is also a key ingredient in Mexican sauces, Indian curries and pilafs, Middle Eastern stews, pickled vegetables, and sauerkraut sauce. It is also used in sausages, cold cuts, and other processed meat products.
In Greece, allspice is used in hare or rabbit stew and, more generally, in recipes with thick tomato sauces, such as beef kokkinisto. It is also used in sweet recipes, desserts, cakes, and fruit tarts that call for cinnamon and cloves. Allspice enhances the flavor of baked fruits such as apples, quinces, pineapples, and plums. It can also be used in spicy chocolate recipes, cookies, and pumpkin pies.
