Allspice

[Farang]

,
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.
,

[Guess]

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.

[lomuamart]

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!!

[caller]

I thought it was an after shave?!

[johnnyk]

I thought it was an after shave?!

No, that's "Old Spaz"

[Farang]

'
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.
,

[Onlyme]

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.

[Farang]

'
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.
,

[PeteC]

'
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.
,

I think the MC taxi drivers usually carry it, as well as the bouncers stationed outside of the Thai clubs. Pete

[JD]

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.

[kiwi P]

I thought it was an after shave?!

Hehe only in Australia ............

Peace Out...

[Farang]

,
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.

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.

[Guess]

As Guess has said, "All Spice" is a mixture containing mainly cumin and coriander.
The fact that it's called "All Spice" suggests that you connect your own stuff.
Happy grinding!!

I am sure I had already responded to this but if I did it has now vanished.

I did not say (or even write) that, and also it is wholly incorrect as I am sure the rest of the posters here know. I think there might have been confusion between Allspice and Mixed Spice here.

Anyway the question has now been answered but as I said in the first post, it can alos be obtained in Little India. Allspice is used on a very limited scale in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Presumably it was introduced to the region during the British Raj period.

[Farang]

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.

Thank you for the tip. I visited Soi 4 Foodland and bought out their remaining stock. All of two small jars.
,

[Bamboo Grove]

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