Allspice

Allspice, Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, Turkish yenibahar, English pepper, and Newspice

Allspice History and Folkore

Allspice has been used for flavoring foods, particularly meats for centuries. It was used by both the Aztec and Maya civilizations long before European contact and was first imported to Europe in 1601. The Spanish mistook it for a type of pepper and called it pimenta, so its Latin name was derived. Its common name, Allspice, comes from the flavor profile of the dried berry which combines elements of cinnamon, cloves, juniper and nutmeg.

Jamaica has long been the leading exporter of allspice and once held a near-monopoly on its production. It is an integral part of Jamaican cuisine, most famously as a part of jerk seasoning. Locals who can obtain fresh allspice leaves and wood use these for seasoning and smoking meats as well but they do not export well so it remains a local treasure.

Allspice in the Garden

The Allspice tree is a tropical evergreen tree native to Central America and the Greater Antilles. It can grow up to 50 feet tall but is usually a bit shorter, and has a shrubby habit. Allspice trees have leathery green leaves that are highly aromatic. The bark is white-grey, also aromatic, and tends to peel. In the spring, small white flowers appear on pyramidal inflorescences. The trees are dioecious and a separate male tree must be present for female trees to produce their tiny round green seeds 3-5 month after flowers appear. The clusters of berries are harvested while they are still green and sun-dried to reddish brown to produce the familiar allspice berry.

Allspice prefer moist and full sun to part shade

You will not be able to grow Pimenta dioica from the seeds in your allspice seasoning jar as the berry must pass through the body of a bird for the seed to become viable. You may be able to obtain a small specimen to plant. (I have seen them on Etsy, but make sure you’re getting Pimenta dioica, not one of the other plants called Allspice out there). It will not do well in non-tropical areas though you may be able to keep a tree alive in a warm, sheltered, sunny spot as low as USDA zone 9. You will need both a male and a female plant to get berries, but it may be worth it to you to tend a single specimen for the aromatic leaves.

If you are lucky enough to live in a tropical area, your allspice tree will need plenty of space to spread out. Plant your trees at least 30 feet apart and 30 feet away from any structure. Your trees will start blooming after about three years and, assuming you have both male and female plants, your berries will be ready to pick around August. Harvest them when they’ve reached full size but are still green. Then dry them in the sun until they achieve that reddish brown color.

Allspice in the Kitchen

Allspice is best known for various spice blends such as jerk seasoning, pumpkin pie spice and pickling spice.

Allspice contains iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and phytosterols

Pimenta dioica (formerly P. officianalis) for Healing

Allspice Magick

Correspondences
Element(s): Fire
Planet(s): Mars

Carry allspice berries with you, eat something seasoned with allspice or wear the scent to ensure luck follows you, especially while gambling, making business deals, and investing in the stock market.

Use allspice to bring health to yourself and wealth to your household.

It can also be burned as money-drawing incense, added to a floor wash or tucked into a money bag.

“Carolina allspice” (Calycanthus floridus), “Japanese allspice” (Chimonanthus praecox), or “wild allspice” (Lindera benzoin).