It is the dried, full-grown but immature fruit that is confessed as pimento, otherwise called pimento officianlis or eugenia pimenta, an evergreen tree approximately 30 feet high and a member of the natural order mypaceae, endemic to the West Indian islands and South America. It is extensively grown in Jamaica where it flourishes best on limestone hills neighbourhood and far from the sea.

It is also cultivated in Central America and surrounding states. But more than half the supply of this spice found in commerce comes from Jamaica where it command little more attention beyond clearing gone undergrowth.

Many mankind know the Caribbean as a community to find sunshine, sailboats and calypso music amidst a melting tropical breeze, on the contrary rare see it as a place to find folk-healing at its finest. Folk-healing has been alive in the Caribbean for centuries.

Some of its restorative magic is found in the spices that are native to the ait but known universally to almost every cookbook. Allspice is old as a digestive aid, pain reliever and anaesthetic. Jamaicans drink feverish allspice tea championing colds, menstrual cramps and upset stomach.

Costa Ricans use it to handle indigestion, flatulence and diabetes. Cubans consider it a refreshing tonic and Guatemalans apply crushed allspice berries externally to treat bruises and joint and muscle pains. Allspice berries contain an unguent that is the source of all its healing powers. The oil is rich in the chemical eugenol, which is also found in cloves and assorted other healing herbs.

Eugenol further the activity of digestive enzymes. It is a decided painkiller.

Dentists use eugenol as an anaesthetic for teeth and gums and the chemical is an constituent in numzident and benzodent, which are over-the-counter toothache remedies. Allspice oil may be applied directly to painful teeth and gums as ahead aid until professional help can be obtained.

I have made an ointment out of allspice oil, bay leaves, penny royale, comfrey, sarsaparilla and a couple other herbs that have people requesting it again and again. The dried apricot pimento berry when crushed is one of the most admirable food flavourings for meat dishes and soups.

From this I have prepared a seasoning combined with all the flavourful herbs in Jamaica. Back in the day, it was chosen by Versair to be cast-off to make ready first-class meals on Air Jamaica.

Representing digestive purposes, prepare an infusion using one to two teaspoons of allspice powder per cup of boiling water or steep two fresh leaves in a pint of boiling water for about 10 to 20 minutes, strain, sweeten and sip up to three cups daily.

Healthy, non-pregnant women can use this herb which is regarded as generally safe by the American Aliment and Narcotic Administration. WARNING! At no time SWALLOW THE CONCENTRATED OIL, AS LITTLE AS ONE TEASPOON CAN CAUSE NAUSEA, VOMITING. DILUTE THE OIL FOR EXTERNAL USE AS IT MAY CAUSE INFLAMMATION. Buckston Harrison is well avowed for his work as a herbalist, especially in western Jamaica.

He resides in Sheffield, Westmoreland. Try some Chinese grapes Huber I was introduced to Chinese grapes alongside a local fruit tree cultivator. The individual berries sound grapes, but how they bear is a different story. These fruit bear from the wooden part of the plant - trunk and branches - after sending absent a small flower.

The green berries basic turn reddish and then black. They palliate as they ripen and approach off the branch easily. These ancient treasures are a good source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Couple them with guava, starapple, nigrous sapotee, icecream beans, orange, banana, gully find and purple passion fruit.

From http://jamaicaobserver.com/westernnews/html/20080423t210000-~.asp