Here’s a spoiler alert: Allspice isn’t a mix of spices as many often assume. In fact, it’s just the very pungent unripened berry of a small evergreen plant in the myrtle family that bears a number of complex flavors.

The shrub that produces this berry is native to Jamaica, southern Mexico, and parts of Central America. After it’s picked, it’s dried in the sun to produce the spice, which can either be packaged whole (looking like oversized, smooth peppercorns) or ground up like each 2.4 oz. bag of Thrive Market Organic Ground Allspice. It has a warm, sweet, fragrant, aromatic flavor with a taste that conjures up a combination of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

A brief history of allspice

Christopher Columbus discovered allspice on the island of Jamaica during his second voyage to the New World. Mistaking it for a type of pepper, the Spanish accordingly named it pimienta—even today allspice is sometimes called pimento or Jamaica pepper. Upon returning to Europe with it, allspice became popular for baking, and in modern times, continues to be used for a number of deserts and mulled beverages.

Although allspice is still a widely used seasoning, cultivation of it outside the Caribbean has often been unsuccessful. Today, most allspice is still produced in Jamaica, though Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico also produce some quantities.

Why choose Thrive Market Organic Ground Allspice

In cooking, few other elements possess the power to enhance, balance, or even salvage a recipe the way spices can. When they are of high quality and used properly, they can take the palate to pleasing and surprising places. Thrive Market Organic Ground Allspice is no different. Our spice is certified organic by the USDA and verified non-GMO.

It’s carefully tracked from its point of origin all the way to our shelves, ensuring quality, cleanliness, and 100 percent organic status. Our stringent quality control standards mean you’re getting the very best spices available—always fresh, always carefully chosen from the current year’s crop, and always gluten-free.

How allspice is used in the kitchen

Because of its place of origin, allspice is one of the most important components in Caribbean cuisine—it’s a hallmark of Jamaican jerk seasoning and also used to flavor stews, soups, and curries; the leaves and wood of the allspice shrub are used to smoke meats as well. Allspice is also featured prominently in Middle Eastern cuisine, providing depth to meat dishes, and serving as a primary spice in many Palestinian dishes.

Allspice is also used widely in baked goods like pies, cakes, and cookies, particularly seasonal goods like pumpkin pie. It’s also used in pickling spice mix and mincemeat like sausages.

As well, allspice can add a layer of complexity to ketchup, barbecue sauces, and other condiments and marinades: Cincinnati-style chili relies on allspice for its distinctive flavor.

In the beauty industry, allspice oil is often used as part of perfumes and colognes, especially in men’s toiletries.

Health benefits of allspice

The powers of allspice go well beyond its flavor potential, but also include a number of surprising health benefits thanks to a good amount of vitamins and minerals, including:

Vitamin A
Beta-carotene
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B2
Vitamin C
Thiamine
Niacin
Riboflavin
Iron
Magnesium
Potassium
Manganese
Selenium
Copper

Together these nutrients can positively affecting the body:

Antibacterial properties

Research suggests allspice has antibacterial and antifungal effects, especially in the digestive system. Allspice also contains eugenol, a compound used by dentists as an antiseptic and a local anesthetic.

Gut health

The spice has been used traditionally and in folk medicine as a tonic for the gastrointestinal system, relieving flatulence and helping to treat vomiting, diarrhea, and indigestion. It’s also known to stimulate appetite. Try infusing one to two teaspoons of allspice powder in a cup of boiling water and steep for about fifteen minutes, then strain and drink as a tea to soothe indigestion.

Antioxidant boost

The eugenol, quercetin, and tannins in allspice are antioxidants, substances thought to neutralize free radicals that damage cells and may increase the risk of serious disease. The concentration of vitamin A and C in allspice also help support its antioxidant effects.

Cooking with Thrive Market Organic Ground Allspice

Allspice works in savory dishes as well as sweet. Here are some ideas for using it in the kitchen:

Mix 1/4 teaspoon into two pounds of ground beef to add a different flavor to burgers or meatloaf
Add 1/4 teaspoon to white cake or angel food cake for a uniquely spiced dessert
Swap allspice for cinnamon in applesauce, apple pie, fruit compotes, oats, and oatmeal cookies for another flavor profile
Add a pinch of Thrive Market Ground Allspice to tomato sauce, homemade ketchup, and barbecue sauces
Include allspice in homemade sausage recipes
Use as a substitute for cloves for mulling and other uses

More about Thrive Market products

At Thrive Market, our mission is to bring you the highest quality organic goods at truly affordable prices. That's why we've gone directly to the source to develop our own line of premium products made from the very best all-natural ingredients at a fraction of their usual price tag. Finally, you don't need to choose between cost and quality, taste and health, value and your values. If it has the Thrive Market seal, you can trust that you're getting the highest quality product possible at the lowest price anywhere. Shop our premium, organic, and fair-trade certified virgin coconut oil, spices, nuts and dried fruits, tomato sauces, ghee, and sprouted grains today!