allspice
allspice Lexical Profile
• noun
The aromatic powder or seasoning produced by grinding these dried berries, commonly used in baking, marinades, and traditional Caribbean cuisine.
"The traditional jerk chicken recipe requires a generous tablespoon of ground allspice."
The dried, unripe berry of the Pimenta dioica tree, a midcanopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico, and Central America, utilized whole or ground as a culinary spice.
"She dropped a whole allspice berry into the simmering cider to infuse it with a warm, autumnal aroma."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its name suggesting a mixture of different ingredients, allspice is a single, distinct botanical spice; it was named for its complex flavor profile that mimics a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in English in the early 17th century (circa 1621), supposedly by English physicians or explorers who thought the single spice combined the flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.