Allspice is the signature flavoring in traditional Jamaican jerk seasoning.
Allspice is the dried unripe berry of Pimenta dioica, a tree native to the Caribbean and Central America. Its flavor combines notes that resemble cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, which explains the English name “allspice.” In Jamaica, the berry and tree are commonly called pimento.
Traditional jerk recipes combine allspice with hot Scotch bonnet peppers, scallions, thyme, garlic, ginger and other seasonings. The mixture is rubbed into meat or used as a marinade before the food is cooked over a smoky fire. Allspice is crucial to the recognizable profile, but it is not the only flavoring.
Allspice is sometimes mistaken for a blend of several spices because of its name. It is a single spice. Jamaica remains one of the world’s major sources, and Jamaican allspice is closely associated with jerk cooking, although the spice is also used in pickling, baking and savory dishes elsewhere.