Description: Allspice is the dried brown berry of the tropical Pimenta dioica tree, a clove relative native to the West Indies and Central America. It got its name in the 17th century, when allspice berries were first imported to Europe, since it’s said to taste like a combination of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Allspice berries are harvested when green (unripe) and briefly fermented, then sun dried (or machine dried), during which they turn a reddish-brown.
Health benefits:
- May Act as an Anaesthetic
This oil can be applied to any areas where you are experiencing pain, as it has a local numbing or anaesthetic effect. This anaesthetic effect can suppress certain types of pain, including those of neuralgia, bone and muscular injuries, and joints, as well as those resulting from insect bites or stings.
- May Reduce Pain
The analgesic property of the essential oil of pimento also comes from its anaesthetic property. It may have a numbing effect on the nerves which does not let the sensation of pain reach the brain or be felt by our nerves. This may help to overcome pain resulting from wounds, headaches, colds, arthritis, and gout, among others. Moreover, it doesn’t make your nerves and brain dull in the long run, nor does it have any adverse effect on the heart, unlike most analgesics that are available on the market.
- Might Detoxify Body
This property is in great demand these days as it is being viewed as the key to retaining your youth and guaranteeing a longer, healthier life. Mankind has always been in search of something like this. But what is so vitally important about these antioxidants? What are they and how are they useful? Antioxidants are agents that protect the body from the damage done by oxidation and free radicals. But how can oxygen and its subsequent oxidation, which may make life and energy production possible, be the cause of so much damage? You will be surprised to know that oxygen was once responsible for the mass destruction of all life forms on earth in the very beginning. It simply oxidized them to death. 100% pure oxygen (and even in lesser quantities) can still oxidize the lungs, respiratory tracts and all the tissues in our body to death as if they have been burnt.
- Oxidation is believed to be one of the prime causes behind aging and age-related damage to the body such as the weakening of muscles, hair loss, loss of vision and hearing, nervous disorders, macular and muscular degeneration, and certain types of cancer. Now, there are substances in our body, which are called free radicals, that carry active oxygen and speed up this oxidation of cells and promote aging. Antioxidants can actually stop aging by neutralizing these free radicals or oxidants and also repair the damage already done by them.
- May Prevent Bacterial Infections
Septic and tetanus are infections of wounds and internal organs like the urethra, gallbladder, urinary tract, and kidneys that are caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus Aureus and Clostridium Tetani, respectively. New-born babies that are less than one month old are most vulnerable to septic and tetanus.
- May Reduce Stress
The essential oil of pimento has a relaxing effect on the muscles, nerves, blood vessels and brain. This way, it provides relief from stress, anxiety, anger, nervous afflictions, convulsions, hypertension, mental unrest, depression, and insomnia.
- Might Stimulate Blood Circulation
It stimulates blood circulation, the secretion of hormones and enzymes, digestion, and other functions in the body, thereby helping to maintain proper metabolism. This also stimulates the growth of cells and the generation of new cells.
Locations of harvest:
Time periods of harvest:
Harvest Process: Because it hails from the Caribbean, allspice will grow well in tropical areas. The trees are planted in an area that gets light for about 40 percent of the daytime. The saplings require lighter to stay healthy, but the trees only need a little bit of light to thrive. Pimento is planted in loose and well-moistened soil. It is grown outdoors until it reaches 40 feet high. The trees will bear fruits when they become three years old or older and will display small but pretty and fragrant blooms from June to August. The berries that the trees are cultivated for appear shortly after blooming. Once the berries reach a fully-matured size but are still green and unripe, it’s time for them to be harvested.
Dehydration Process: Pimento peppers are handled with special care. Damaged buds may appear in black which affects the price set for the commodity in the market. Pimento peppers are immersed in hot water boiled up to 80 degrees Celsius for one minute and dried in mild sunlight, which prevents the pimento parts turning black when drying. Pimento peppers can be dried in about 25 hours with a temperature set to 45 to 50 degrees Celsius using a cabinet type artificial dryer. The quality of Pimento peppers will be affected if the temperature is increased more than the desired amount. The moisture percentage of these buds should be 10 to 12 percent. A technologically advanced apparatus, the ozone dryer, can be used to dry Pimento peppers to produce ones of optimum quality.