Allspice

This looks like a smooth peppercorn but larger, and it is so called because it is supposed to resemble in flavour a mixture of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. However, it is not really like any one of them but has a unique flavour of its own. It is sometimes called Jamaican pepper or pimento, and is used in marinades and pickles – you’ll see the whole berries used in jars of commercial pickled herrings, and you can catch some of its flavour in the recipe for Tunisian Aubergine Salad.