Allspice: flavour, uses and substitutes
Suggests cloves, pepper and cinnamon, but is a single spice.
Pimenta dioica
Download this card (PDF)Whole ingredient guide as PDF
Card: A5 landscape, 0.2 MB · Whole guide: 45 pages, 6.8 MB · with MenuTome watermark
Three identifying features
- Rounded berries
- Brown surface with a small calyx mark
- Clove-and-cinnamon-like scent
Fresh or dried?
Use whole dried berries or grind them freshly.
When should it go into the pan?
Infuse whole berries in cooking liquid; add powder to fillings and dough.
What does it go with?
Red cabbage, stews, marinades and spice cake.
Cuisines & dish ideas
Try Caribbean-inspired marinades or central European braises.
What can replace it?
A small pinch of cinnamon with a little clove and pepper is an approximation.
How should it be stored?
Keep whole berries sealed, dry and dark.
Recipes using it
The ingredient list names this herb or spice. Check the recipe for fresh or dried form and quantity.
Sources and notes
Sources
- Kew · Pimenta dioica · Accessed 2026-10-25
- BZfE · Gewürze und Kräuter sicher genießen · Accessed 2026-10-25
Image: AI-generated (OpenAI). Image note: The illustrations were created with AI. They show culinary ingredients and are not a guide to identifying wild plants.