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Spice · Myrtaceae

Allspice

Pimenta dioica

One berry with aromas that recall clove, cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg—without being a blend.

Core Edibles · Volume One

Allspice

01

Meet the food

Allspice spice from Pimenta dioica. Scientific identity: Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. Edible part: Dried fruit used as spice. Exact source form: Ground allspice corresponding to the retained USDA FoodData Central record.

One berry with aromas that recall clove, cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg—without being a blend.

Common name
Allspice
Scientific name
Pimenta dioica
Family
Myrtaceae
Edition
Core Edibles
Flavor
Warm · peppery · clove-like
Texture
Hard berry · fine powder
Season
Dried pantry spice
Best storage
Airtight · dark · dry
Great for
Stews · baking · marinades
Know this
Ground spice values do not represent a typical serving

02

Pairings

  • Cinnamon
  • Clove
  • Ginger
  • Citrus
  • Beans
  • Squash

03

Safety & special considerations

Ground spice values do not represent a typical serving

Safety & special considerations Allspice is normally used in small culinary quantities. Do not transfer concentrated spice nutrition values to a teaspoon serving without recalculation.

04

Taste, choose & buy

Whole berries should smell strongly aromatic when crushed; ground spice should not smell dusty or flat.

05

Nutrition

Exact food form · Per 100 g

Spices, allspice, ground

Allspice: Spices, allspice, ground, Per 100 g
NutrientPer 100 g
Energy263 kcal
Carbohydrate72.1 g
Protein6.09 g
Fat8.69 g
Fiber21.6 g
Total sugarsn.a.

USDA FoodData Central · per 100 g. Typical eating portions may be much smaller, especially for spices.

Exact chapter values; per 100 g; no derived calculations; unavailable values remain n.a.

06

Store & preserve

  1. 1

    Airtight · dark · dry

    Keep airtight away from heat and light. Whole berries retain aroma longer than ground spice.

  2. 2

    Before using

    Discard food with mold, pests, leaking decay, or an unmistakably off odor.

07

At a glance

Flavor
Warm · peppery · clove-like
Texture
Hard berry · fine powder
Uses
Stews · baking · marinades
Storage
Airtight · dark · dry
Safety
Ground spice values do not represent a typical serving
Nutrition form
Spices, allspice, ground

08

Grow: start to harvest

Dried culinary allspice berries will not grow. Male and female flowers usually occur on separate trees, so one seedling may never fruit; grow several seedlings if berries are the goal.

START WITH
Fresh, cleaned seeds from ripe purple-black allspice berries
CLIMATE
Tropical or subtropical; outdoors year-round only where frost is absent, roughly zones 10–12. Elsewhere, grow as a container tree and overwinter warm.
LIGHT
Full sun to light afternoon shade
SOIL
Rich, well-drained soil that stays lightly moist
  1. 1

    Start it

    Remove every trace of pulp from fresh seed. Sow about 1/4 inch deep at 75–85°F. Keep evenly moist and warm; germination may take 1–3 months.

  2. 2

    Give it room

    Move seedlings into individual pots after several true leaves. In the ground, allow at least 15–20 feet between trees.

  3. 3

    Water correctly

    Water before the root zone fully dries, especially while young. Do not let seedlings wilt repeatedly.

  4. 4

    Care for it

    Shelter young plants from wind and cold. You cannot reliably identify male and female seedlings until they flower.

  5. 5

    Harvest

    If a female tree is pollinated, pick full-sized berries while green, then dry them in moving air until dark brown and hard.

Expect a multi-year wait—often 5 years or longer—from seed to flowering.

If a female tree is pollinated, pick full-sized berries while green, then dry them in moving air until dark brown and hard.

09

Prepare & cook

  1. 1

    Toast whole berries lightly

    Match the method to the exact food form and intended dish.

  2. 2

    Grind only what you need

    Match the method to the exact food form and intended dish.

  3. 3

    Add early to stews

    Match the method to the exact food form and intended dish.

  4. 4

    Use sparingly in baking

    Match the method to the exact food form and intended dish.

Sources

core-edibles-2026.1 · allspice