Allspice vs clove
The closest pair in the spice cabinet, and allspice is the softer of the two. Both are Myrtaceae, both are dried unopened plant parts, and clove is roughly three times as assertive.
botanical
What is being compared
Why these get confused
Allspice is called pimento and Jamaica pepper, and it is neither a pepper nor a blend.
Point by point
| Aspect | Allspice | Clove |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Pimenta dioica: the dried unripe berry of a Caribbean myrtle. | Syzygium aromaticum: the dried unopened flower bud of a myrtle native to Maluku alone. |
| Flavour | Clove-dominant with cinnamon and nutmeg behind it, and softer overall. | Intensely clove, with a numbing quality and no supporting notes. |
| Quantity | Forgiving. Several berries in a pot is normal. | Two cloves is often enough; it takes over a blend quickly. |
| History | Jamaica has dominated the trade since the seventeenth century and it resists growing elsewhere. | The Banda and Maluku spice trade, fought over by Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain. |
| In drinks | Caribbean sorrel, mulled preparations, and spiced teas. | Masala chai, mulled wine, and Middle Eastern coffee and tea. |
The short answer
If clove has ever overwhelmed a drink, allspice is the gentler way to the same warmth. In the other direction, allspice cannot be pushed hard enough to substitute for clove.
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