Allspice

What it is: I used to think allspice was a spice blend, but it’s actually a single spice. Allspice is the unripe, dried berries of the Pimenta diocia tree. It has a spicy, somewhat sweet flavor that has also been described as ‘warm’.

Health benefits:

• Reduces inflammation
• Treats nausea - allspice contains a compound called eugenol (this is also what makes it spicy). Eugenol is what helps reduce nausea
• Has antifungal and antibacterial properties - this is again because it contains the compound eugenol. Because of this, allspice is sometimes applied onto minor cuts and wounds to prevent bacterial infection
• Helps relieve toothache
• Can reduce symptoms of menopause - compounds in allspice can increase production of the hormone estradiol in the body, which reduces menopause symptoms such as hot flashes

Common Uses: Allspice can be used in main and side dishes, desserts and beverages. Some recipes that use allspice are Jamaican jerk seasoning, pumpkin based desserts, Swedish meatballs and mincemeat pie filling.