What is allspice made from?

Allspice is made from the berries of the Pimenta dioica tree, dried and ground while they are unripe. The Pimenta dioica tree can be found in Jamaica, Guatemala and Honduras, according to Spice Advice.

Allspice is not a mixture of spices, as some believe, although its taste is similar to cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves combined.

The dried berries of the Pimenta dioica look like peppercorns. When Christopher Columbus reached the Caribbean, he took some of the berries back to Spain thinking they were pepper.

Allspice is commonly used as a seasoning in Jamaican food, such as Jamaican jerk seasoning. It can also be used in cakes, pickles and condiments.