Allspice (peas and ground): use in cooking

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Every housewife has allspice in her kitchen. It is widely used to prepare a wide variety of dishes, and it has a lot of positive properties that many do not know about. In this article, we will take a closer look at the history of this type of spice, its positive and negative qualities, as well as ways to use it in the culinary economy.

Brief description of pepper

Allspice is an evergreen plant (tree) that represents the Myrtle family. Plant height can be from 6 to 12 meters. The leaves are ovate, long, twisted along the edges. The inflorescences are small, white, similar to racemose umbrellas. The fruits of the plant are initially green, and when ripe, turn red. Inside each fruit there are two or three small chambers, each of which contains only one black or brown seed inside.

Growing allspice on your own is very difficult because it prefers to grow in lime-bauxite soil. The tree bears fruit only after seven yearsafter landing. You need to have time to collect them before they ripen. Ripe they don't have the same flavor and become worthless as a spice. The fruits need to be dried in a special oven or in the sun, due to which the well-known granular appearance and roundness appear. One such tree gives about 75 kg of crop. The diameter of the fruit of the tree is about 5 millimeters.

History of the spice

Columbus' plant - this is how Europeans call allspice black pepper in honor of its discoverer. The plant has many names. One of the most famous is Jamaican Pepper. In Europe, as a spice, it began to be used only by the end of the 17th century. Due to its unusual smell, it quickly gained popularity and became very popular.

Allspice is a spice that was special and unusual at that time compared to other seasonings known to people. The Czechs called it "new seasoning". The English called pepper "English". The spice has a mixed flavor that is found in mustard, cinnamon, cloves as well as nutmeg. That is why it was called all spice, which translates as "universal seasoning".

The country from which allspice came to us is India. Around the period from 1571 to 1577, F. Fernandez was on a trip to Mexico. There, the scientist first saw this plant in the state of Mexico called Tabasco. After that, the pepper was called Piper tabasci. The scientist also learned that the ancient Aztecs used this type of spice to make chocolate drinks gourmet.fragrant notes. Today, Jamaica is the main producer and supplier of this famous seasoning.

Pepper ingredients

In 100 grams of this fragrant spice there is:

1. Water - 8.46 grams.
2. Fiber - 21.6 grams.
3. Ashes - 4.65 grams.
4. Vitamins (A, B1, B6, C and many others).

Also, allspice in its composition contains substances such as selenium, copper, manganese. This seasoning contains a considerable amount of iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium. The spice includes about 5% essential oils, as well as a variety of tannins, fatty oils.

Use in cooking

In cooking, ground allspice is used as a substitute for black pepper. In general, it is a spicy seasoning, the abuse of which adversely affects human he alth. It is part of the curry seasoning, and is also a component of cakes, liqueurs, cookies. You can use allspice when preparing a fatty sauce. It will give special taste notes, as well as an exquisite aroma.

Almost no dish can do without this spice. Allspice can be in spinach, fried fish, jelly, soup, salads, pudding, marinades, pickled foods. Any person will appreciate meat cooked with a delicious sauce. The sauce recipe is as follows: add flour, onion, a little black pepper, s alt to the broth and cook over low heat, stirring from time to time. After that, you need to add a little red wine and a few peas of allspice. The sauce is ready!

Homemadecanning also needs allspice. It is found in brines, marinades, with the help of which vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, squash) are s alted and pickled. The alcoholic beverage industry also did not do without this type of spice. In addition, pepper acts as a flavoring agent for canned fish, s alted herring, and hard cheeses. Ground pepper is found in various sauces and mustard. It is also added to desserts, such as cream pudding or fruit compote. The confectionery industry, as well as sausages, also cannot do without ground allspice. And if you add it to tea, you get an excellent remedy for indigestion.

In addition, pepper berries are used in perfumery, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Useful properties of allspice

Allspice has a number of positive properties and is widely used for medicinal purposes. If pepper grains are boiled and then crushed, then rheumatism can be cured. It is used as a component in various ointments that are used to treat various nerve pinches in the spine.

Essential oils in allspice help regulate the digestive processes in the body, eliminate constipation, relieve bloating and abdominal pain, and also have an energy, antiseptic effect.

Drinking allspice tea can improve digestion and cure indigestion. Pigment oil in pepper will help with bloating.

Indian traditional medicineis also full of various recipes for improving he alth and treating stomach ailments. In addition, the Indians believed that pepper has magical aphrodisiac properties when added to cocoa.

Harm of allspice

Despite its many positive qualities, allspice has some disadvantages. The most important of these is the manifestation of allergic reactions. But such an outcome is possible in people suffering from individual intolerance to the product. Otherwise, just remember that allspice is a specific seasoning that should not be abused.

So, we have considered such a type of seasoning as allspice, options for its use in cooking, as well as positive and negative qualities. This spice is very popular, and no housewife can do without it.