Allspice takes its name from its aroma, which smells like a combination of cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg.  The outer case contains two dark, hard kidney-shaped seeds. Unripe berries are harvested and sun dried until the seeds in them rattle. Allspice is available whole or ground. Sometimes the whole berry will be called ‘pimento’. In much of the world, allspice is called pimento because the Spanish mistook the fruit for black pepper, which the Spanish called pimienta. This is especially confusing since the Spanish had already called chillies pimientos.
Flavor: warm and sweetly pungent with peppery overtones.