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.