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Allspice
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<p>Allspice, also known as Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, or pimento, is the dried unripe <a href="/facts/Berry_(botany)/2JfhI0vw">berry</a> of <i>Pimenta dioica</i>, a <a href="/facts/Canopy_(forest)/P1C0uxKl">midcanopy</a> tree native to the <a href="/facts/Greater_Antilles/kaBemUwY">Greater Antilles</a>, southern <a href="/facts/Mexico/IT5bwhdh">Mexico</a>, and <a href="/facts/Central_America/CXKgTuxC">Central America</a>, now cultivated in many warm parts of the world. The name <i>allspice</i> was coined as early as 1621 by the English, who valued it as a <a href="/facts/Spice/mIMfxvm7">spice</a> that combined the flavours of <a href="/facts/Cinnamon/Aag9baI6">cinnamon</a>, <a href="/facts/Nutmeg/ufqkrJKU">nutmeg</a>, and <a href="/facts/Clove/gBcJmjYt">clove</a>. Contrary to common misconception, it is not a mixture of spices. </p><p>Several unrelated fragrant shrubs are called "Carolina allspice" (<i><a href="/facts/Calycanthus_floridus/5HsanJ2d">Calycanthus floridus</a></i>), "Japanese allspice" (<i><a href="/facts/Chimonanthus_praecox/psWBF1Pg">Chimonanthus praecox</a></i>), or "wild allspice" (<i><a href="/facts/Lindera_benzoin/u7GjXyfg">Lindera benzoin</a></i>). </p>