Pimento (Pimenta dioica)
Other names: new spices, pimento, Pimenta officinalis, Jamaican pepper, Eugenia pimenta
Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)
The pimento tree, also known as allspice, pimento, pimento officinalis, Jamaican pepper or Eugenia pimenta, is an evergreen tree native to tropical America. It stands out not only for its resistance to adverse conditions, but above all for its aromatic fruits, which have been used in culinary and medicinal applications for hundreds of years. They are characterised by a distinctive, spicy flavour that is similar in complexity to a combination of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. This unique aroma profile makes the pimento fruit versatile.
The pimento fruit came to the attention of Europeans thanks to Christopher Columbus, who brought it back from a voyage to the New World. Since then, they have become an integral part of cuisines around the world. In gastronomy, they are mainly used in ground form as a spice - in marinades, sauces, soups, for roasting meat or even in desserts and confectionery. Thanks to their rich flavour and aroma, pimento fruits are also part of spice mixes such as the Caribbean jerk mix or the traditional French classic - quatre épices. Outside the culinary sphere, the pimento tree is also used in perfumery and the pharmaceutical industry. Its essential oil is used to make after-shave balm, toothpaste, patches for rheumatic problems and many other medicinal products. Last but not least, pimento fruits also have a place in the alcohol industry, where they are added to certain types of rum, gin and liqueurs to give them a specific flavour and aroma.