Allspice

Farang · Guru Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 661

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I've been on the look-out for some time now for whole allspice.

Does anyone know where to find it in Hua Hin?

Thank you.
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Guess · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:43 am Post subject:

Farang,

Allspice is a Western hemisphere spice and not used in Thailand. It has, however been cultivated on a limited scale in India. It is possible that it could be obtained in Little India in Bangkok or in the Deep South. I doubt if you would find it in Hua Hin.

I would just put a request out on the forum for anybody travelling from the UK could get you some. In London it is readily available in powder or whole dried fruit form.

If you do go the Little India route here in Thailand the Indian names (Hindi and Gujarati) I think are kabab cheen and seetfal. The Thais usually use a Thai accented version of Hindi names for imported spices such as yiera for jeera (cumin).

Penang would almost certainly have it but may not know the name allspice.
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lomuamart · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:02 am Post subject:

As Guess has said, "All Spice" is a mixture containing mainly cumin and coriander.
It's easily pounded here. Just go to the market and you'll find most of the spices to go with the effort of doing it.
The fact that it's called "All Spice" suggests that you connect your own stuff.
Happy grinding!!
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caller · Ace Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 1922 Location: Londonistan

I thought it was an after shave?! Embarassed

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johnnyk · Guru Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Posts: 994

Farang · Guru Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 661

'
Thank y'all for excruciatingly illuminative replies. What I am looking for is elaborated more minutely on:

http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Pime_dio.html

as well as on:

http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/allspice.html

Perhaps a mixture of black pepper and nutmeg with few cloves thrown in would yield something not
instantly disapproved of by my syba(c)ritically jaded palate.
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Onlyme · Specialist Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 231 Location: Cha-am

Description
Allspice is the dried, unripened fruit of a small evergreen tree, the Pimenta Dioica. The fruit is a pea-sized berry which is sundried to a reddish-brown color. Pimento is called Allspice because its flavor suggests a blend of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Uses
Allspice is used in seasonings, sauces, sausages, ketchup, jams, pumpkin, gravies, roasts, hams, baked goods, and teas. Caribbean cooking relies on Allspice as the main ingredient in jerk seasoning. It is used in Caribbean, Mexican, Indian, English, and North American cooking and in seasoning blends such as jerk seasoning and curry.

Origins
Most Allspice is produced in Jamaica, but alternative sources include Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Historically, Jamaican Allspice has been considered superior because of its higher oil content, better appearance and flavor. Jamaican Allspice has a clove-like aroma while the Honduran and Guatemalan varieties have a characteristic bay-rum flavor.

Folklore
For centuries, the Mayan Indians used Allspice to embalm the bodies of important leaders. Allspice is also know as Pimiento (Spanish for pepper) because the berries resemble unripened peppercorns and was one of the spices Christopher Columbus discovered on the Caribbean Islands when he asked the native Indians if they harvested black pepper.

Very Happy

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Farang · Guru Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 661

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Thankee, thankee, thankee. Now I finally know what I was looking for.

But, of course, and true to the form, I still do not know where to find it.
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prcscct · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject:

JD · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:55 pm Post subject:

I saw ground allspice in the shopping mall just last week. I purchased whole allspice in Foodland in Bangkok about two months ago. If you just need a few seeds for a recipe give me a pm and you can have some of my stock, if you need quantities though, (for what I couldn't even guess) try Foodland, near Nana Soi 4.
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kiwi P · Member Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 85 Location: New Zealand

Farang · Guru Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 661

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Allspice pre-ground just does not do it. Much as other fine spices in powder form allspice imparts
a lingering bitter aftertaste when introduced in copious quantity. And my secret recipe calls
for on-the-spot ground allspice in prominent measure.

Thank you for the kind offer and the first straight answer. I am looking for whole allspice and shall
pay Foodland a visit.

Guess · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:52 am Post subject:

Farang · Guru Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 661

Bamboo Grove · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:12 pm Post subject:

It's actually on Soi 5, opposite from Amari Boulevard Hotel.
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