Jamaican Allspice Berries

Allspice berries are an essential addition to Mulling Spices and pickling spice mixes. Whole allspice berries are also commonly used in jerk seasoning. Allspice is also great for savory dishes like chili and curry.

Novo Coffee sources Jamaican Allspice from us for a spiced, housemade syrup including also including cinnamon and clove.

When Janet and I traveled to Jamaica in 2014, we visited a small restaurant tucked into the hill country east of Negril. It was a true farm-to-table spot, surrounded by the very fields that supplied its kitchen. There, we got to see and touch green allspice berries before they were picked and dried into the spice we know and love. Allspice has always been one of my personal favorites, so it was pretty cool to finally see it growing in person. A year later, in the Ocho Rios area, we learned how locals use every part of the pimento tree to create the most authentic jerk chicken. The wood and leaves fuel the fire, and dried allspice berries are tossed in to perfume the smoke. The chicken was slow-cooked over pimento wood above cinder block pits, covered with a sheet of metal roofing to trap in the flavor, then finished over direct heat. The care that goes into jerk is incredible. The allspice tree truly gives everything it has, from berry to leaf to wood, to create that signature flavor. We also learned that locals sometimes call allspice “clove pepper,” which makes perfect sense. Its flavor is often described as a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, giving it warmth and depth that works in both sweet and savory dishes. Using allspice at home: Add a dash of ground allspice to rice while fluffing, or make our coconut rice (link) with a hint of allspice for a subtle layer of warm that will complement jerk chicken beautifully.

Originating in Jamaica, allspice is used in Caribbean cooking and jerk seasoning. Originally known as pimiento, and then Jamaica or Myrtle pepper, the taste of allspice is described by most as a combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Allspice is used often in Caribbean cooking and is a main ingredient in our Jamaican Jerk Seasoning.

The allspice grown on the island of Jamaica is widely considered to be the best quality. The whole berries are essential to pickling spice and mulling spices. Allspice is sometimes confused as a blend of spices, but it stands on its own

Jamaican Allspice Berries Q&A

What are allspice berries?

Jamaican Allspice Berries are dried berries that come from the Pimienta Diocia plant.

How many allspice berries in a teaspoon?

How many allspice berries are in 1 teaspoon ultimately depends on the spice of the all spice berry, but probably somewhere between 5-15.

How much ground allspice is one berry?

One allspice berry wouldn't be very much ground allspice, as 1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice comes out to around 5-6 berries (depending on the size).