Allspice
Allspice is the dried fruit of the pimenta tree. It primarily grows in the West Indies, of the Caribbean, but also grows in Mexico and parts of South America and recently is being grown in Hawaii. Jamaica, for instance, is a source of allspice and the pimenta tree.
Is is called allspice, because its aroma and taste resembles a mix of several spices like nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.
The pimanta tree grows to about the height of 20 feet tall. After the tree blossoms and the blossoms come off the tree the fruit is gathered and dried. Although the fruit at this time is fully grown, the fruit has not quite ripened.
Once the fruit has dried it turns from green to the darker browns and red hues. If the fruit is allowed to continue to ripen on the tree it becomes purple colored and becomes filled with a sweetish inner pulp. After the fruit has dried it is ground up to make what we know of as allspice.
Allspice is used for flavoring in soups, sauces, bbq sauces, in liqueurs and wines as well as desserts.There are a lot of Middle Eastern dishes that use allspice extensively as well.