What is the main spice in Jamaican jerk seasoning?

The main spice in Jamaican jerk seasoning is allspice. In Jamaica, it is commonly called pimento, and its warm flavor is the defining aromatic foundation of jerk seasoning.

Allspice is not a blend of spices. It is the dried, unripe berry of Pimenta dioica, a tree native to the Caribbean and parts of Central America. Its flavor resembles a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, which explains both its name and a frequent misconception about it.

Jerk seasoning also depends on Scotch bonnet peppers, which provide much of its heat. Other ingredients may include thyme, scallions, garlic, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and sugar. Traditional jerk cooking developed in Jamaica among Indigenous and Maroon communities and was often done over pimento wood.

Clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon can appear in jerk blends, but none is the central spice. The balance of allspice’s fragrance with Scotch bonnet heat is what gives Jamaican jerk its characteristic identity.