Allspice Tree


You must have heard about the culinary uses of allspice in European cooking. Allspice is an important ingredient for cooking pates, terrines, smoked meat, canned meat, pickles, marinades, soups, game recipes and English spiced beef. Allspice is used as a substitute for cinnamon, cloves and even nutmeg. As for allspice substitute, you need to use one part nutmeg with two parts of cinnamon and cloves. Given below is some information on this tree.

Information

The scientific name of allspice is herb is Pimenta dioica. It is also known as Jamaica Pepper. It is an evergreen small to medium-sized tree. There are frilly flowers that are produced in clusters that become small berries. These small berries ripen into purple-black color that contain one or two large seeds that are used to produce allspice. The leaves and barks of the tree contain the distinctive allspice scent. It is native to the rain forests of South and Central America . There are many plantations of allspice in Mexico and Central America. However, the finest allspice comes from Jamaica, as the climate and soil of the country are best for growing allspice.

The berries are dried and look like large brown pepper corns. The unripe berries are harvested and sun-dried. When the seeds in them tattle, they are kept in the sun. The dried allspice berries are used whole or ground. They have a pungent aroma that feels like a combination of nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and ginger fragrance. There flavor is warm and a bit pungent with a sweet hint. The flavor contains some peppery overtones. Let is now learn how to grow allspice.

How to Grow it
It can grow well in tropical areas. It is mostly propagated by seeds. While planting you need to plant them at least 30 feet apart. This is to allow the full canopy to spread. You need to make sure you plant male and female trees for encouraging cross-pollination. You should keep in mind, only female trees bear fruit, thus if you want the berries, make sure you have male and female trees nearby. You need to plant the tree in an area that receives light for about 40% of the day. Trees require less light and will flourish well. However, you need to give the saplings more light to keep them healthy.

The tree needs loose and well-moistened, soil. You need to add some tropical plant fertilizer and use plant food every 3 to 5 weeks. You should water the tree well and add water when the surface seems dry. You need to prune the tree in spring and summer months. You can grow the it outdoors till it reaches about 40 feet in height. Indoor trees need to pruned annually to maintain its indoor growing space.

The tree bears fruits, when it is about 3 years old. The tree blooms flowers in June to August. The berries are produced shortly after the blooming period. Once the berries are full-sized but unripe and green, you need to harvest them. You should break off the small branches of berry clumps and dry the berries in sun or oven till they are dark reddish-brown in color. It is important to harvest unripe berries as the aroma of the allspice evaporates as the berries ripen. The cuttings of home-grown allspice trees are rarely successful.

The tree can live for up to 100 years and it is difficult to grow it in non-native areas. If you are able to grow the trees in your garden, then you can enjoy the delicious odor of these trees all year round.

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