What is Jamaican Pepper, What are its Benefits?
Jamaican pepper or allspice spice is one of the “delicious” hot peppers, which is among the hottest peppers in the world and has many health benefits. Named after Jamaica, the third largest island of the Caribbean, and the world’s largest Among the hottest peppers, allspice, also known as Jamaican pepper, is a plant species with various benefits that can be used as a spice and sauce. This pepper, which is one thousand to two thousand times hotter than normal hot peppers, is one of the flavor additions to the tables in tropical regions. Allspice, which contains the smell of many spices, is also the spice that not everyone dares to eat.
This pepper, which is quite spicy, is delicious despite its bitterness. The measure of its hotness is between 10,000 and 200,000 scovilles. In other words, it ranks 10th or 12th among the hottest peppers in the world. The reason for the change in the order is due to the variability of the bitterness values in the peppers. If you wish, let’s get to know this tropical pepper closely.
Where It Grows, What Are Its Features?
Although there is information that the explorer of America, Christopher Columbus, found the Jamaican pepper in 1494, when he reached the Caribbean, the exact date of its discovery is unknown. When Columbus first found it, he mistook the Jamaican pepper for black pepper. Columbus was instrumental in the spread of the plant to Europe. He first took it to Spain. It started to be used as a spice here and over time it took the name ‘pimienta’, which means ‘pepper’ in Spanish. Over time, it began to be known as pimento and pimenta among merchants. It was used a lot before the Second World War. In fact, it is stated that there are few seedlings that have survived to the present day, since many allspice seedlings were cut during the war.
Allspice, which grows in tropical climates in the south and central regions of America, is mostly found in Central America. Its homeland is Jamaica. It also grows in Mexico and Honduras. Allspice is obtained by drying the immature fruit of the pimenta plant. It can bear fruit every year. The dwarf tree, which has woody and pile-shaped roots, is highly productive and productive. It can grow up to 10 meters in length. It bears fruit in a period of 3 months from seedling to harvest.
It is a member of the Mersingiller family. When the fruit is green, it resembles a grape and contains tannin and resin. It contains essential oils, compounds such as eugenol, quercetin, and plenty of vitamins. There are also iron and copper components. It contains the scent of some spices such as nutmeg, cloves, kakuke, cinnamon and ginger. The English name of allspice, which has traces of many spices, is “allspice”, which means “all spices”. Predominantly the smell of cloves is felt. Despite its bitter and hard structure, it has a pleasant smell.
Where is it used?
The consumption of allspice in its various forms is around 500-1000 tons annually worldwide. It is dried in the sun and used as a spice. It is completely dry when it turns brown in color. It can be consumed with sweet and salty foods. It adds flavor to foods like chicken and pasta. Although it is bitter, it gives a different taste to the dishes. Tea and oil are also made. Its oil is obtained from the extracts of its leaves and fruits by steam method. We can list some of the dishes and foods in which Jamaican pepper is used as a spice and sauce; meatballs, pickles, pasta, stuffed rice, meat types, stuffed meats, soups, canned food, ketchup, various sauces, sausages, hamburgers, pudding, jellies, cookies, cakes, cakes, biscuits, liqueur drinks,
Human Pepper and oil, which have important benefits for health, should be used in doses. Otherwise, undesirable situations may occur. It is predicted that there may be many benefits that have not been revealed yet, apart from the benefits of Jamaican pepper that have been determined by tried methods. As the secrets of allspice are revealed, it is estimated that it will be used more widely in the coming years, especially in the field of medicine. For example, allspice tested on rats in 2010 was found to relieve pain in the nervous system. The positive effects revealed in the studies conducted in the last 10 years will increase as the studies continue. Is spice or oil more useful, there is no definite information! However, it is not generally recommended for pregnant and lactating mothers. It is estimated that there may be side effects in individuals with allergic sensitivities. There are warnings that it can have side effects in people with stomach conditions such as gastritis and ulcers. In general, the dose should be in the amount of flavoring like other spices.
What are the Benefits?
Jamaican pepper is a plant that has many benefits for human health when used correctly. It has different benefits in different ways with its seeds, tea and oil. It is a natural antiseptic. Due to this feature, it protects the immune and digestive systems. It creates a protective shield against free radicals, which are molecules that cause adverse changes in cells. Allspice oil is effective against skin disorders when used in doses. When applied to the skin as a residue, it softens and moisturizes the skin. Excessive use of oil causes skin irritation. Oral use of the oil is not recommended; However, there is a general belief that consuming a small amount in the morning with water will relieve the stomach and digestion throughout the day.
We can list other benefits of Jamaican pepper and oil as follows.
It is very effective for throat and lung ailments
Accelerates the healing of wounds
The oil has a pain reliever effect besides skin ailments
It has been shown to relieve gas, prevent bloating and indigestion
Can be used against ailments such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting
Prevents forgetfulness by strengthening the mind
Accelerates blood circulation, prevents arteriosclerosis
Effective against diseases such as gout, arthritis, hemorrhoids
Bronchitis, flu It is recommended for diseases such as colds, pharyngitis and cough
It has antibacterial and antiseptic effects in dental health
It can be applied as a local anesthetic in dental infections
It removes bad breath, prevents gingivitis
Its oil, joint relieves pain
Prevents the formation of bacteria and inflammation in wounds, accelerates healing
How to Measure the Bitterness Value of Peppers? (Scoville)
Scoville is a unit of measure that measures the bitterness of peppers. In this unit of measure, developed by pharmacologist and pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912, pepper is diluted in a solution containing sugar water so that the bitterness is not felt. At the moment when the bitterness disappears, the ratio of sugar water and pepper is measured to find the bitterness ratio. The bitter taste is felt thanks to a substance called capsaicin. For this reason, fruits containing capsaicin are defined as “hot peppers”. In general, the bitterness value is reached by calculating the capsaicin ratio in peppers with the Scoville method.
(The hottest pepper in the world Carolina Reaper, which is the most hot pepper in the world, has a bitterness rate of 2,200,000 SHU!)
The World’s Hottest Peppers
There are 125 different types of hot peppers in the world. The average hot pepper values consumed in Turkey are around 10,000 SHU. When you see the bitterness values of the hot peppers listed below, you will think that the hot peppers you eat are actually “sweet peppers”.
Pure capsaicin has a bitterness value of approximately 16 million SHU. Pepper spray used in riots contains 2 million SHU bitterness.
It was bred by Ed Currie in the US state of Carolina.
2- The “Trinidad Moruga Scorpion”, recorded as the world’s hottest pepper in the Book of Records but dethroned by the Carolina Reaper, has a bitterness of 2 million SHU… It was grown by the New Mexico University Hot Pepper Institute in 2012.
3- Pot Douglas peppers; With a value of 1 million 653 thousand SHU, it can only be used in powder form in very small amounts.
4- Pot Primo pepper; A type of pepper with an interesting appearance, worth 1 million 470 thousand SHU.
5- Triniad Scorpion Butch; It was named the hottest pepper in the world in 2011. But now he is in fifth place. The SHU value is 1 million 465 thousand.
6- Naga Viper; It is one of the rare types of pepper and its bitterness value is around 1 million 350 thousand according to SHU.
7- Barrackpore pepper; It is a pepper with a bitterness of around 1 million 300 thousand SHU.
8- Bhut Jolokia; One of the hot peppers with 1 million SHU, known as “ghost pepper”…
9- Pot Red pepper; There are approximately 1 million SHU degrees.
10- Red Savina Habanero; It has 500 thousand SHU degrees.
11- Scottish Bonnet; 350 thousand SHU
12- Jamaican pepper; 200 thousand SHU
We can list the values of other hot peppers as follows;
100 thousand SHU: Thai, Malagueta, Chiltepin, Pequin
50 thousand SHU: Cayenne, Tabasco
23 thousand SHU: Serrano
10 thousand SHU: Candle
8 thousand SHU: Jalapeno
5 thousand SHU: Anaheim
2 thousand 500 SHU: Rocotillo, Sriracha
500 thousand SHU: Poblano
500 SHU: Pimento, Pepperoncini
0 (zero) SHU: Bell pepper
