Allspice and black pepper are the most beloved and most used spices in the cuisines of the whole world. They are widely used to give dishes a piquant, pungent taste and amazing aroma. Let's look at how these types of spices differ and what are the advantages of each of them.
Peas and allspice: what's the difference?
Often, many believe that black and allspice are one and the same. However, such a statement is incorrect. Black pepper is a plant of the lianike type of the Pepper family, whose homeland is India. And fragrant - the fruit of pimento, a tree from the family of Myrtle, growing in Central America, Brazil, Cuba. In addition to different geographical origin and biological affiliation, spices have different appearance and taste.
Appearance
As already mentioned, the differences between peppers are in their biological affiliation and appearance. Naturally, black pepper is a vine or climbing shrub, the fruits of which are small wrinkled peas.
1. Allspice; 2. Black pepper Dushisty (Jamaican) also grows on a tree. The fruits of pimento are quite large and have a smooth surface. Inside each pea there are seeds that are tapped if the fruit is gently shaken. The seeds are similar in appearance to the seeds of bell pepper, but have larger dimensions.
Did you know? In European countries, pimento is called the plant of Christopher Columbus, because it was he who first discovered the spice. Today, the culture is also commonly known as Jamaican pepper.
Taste and Aroma
The main differences between spices are not in appearance, but in taste and aroma. Jamaican pepper has a delicious spicy smell that combines notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, aromas of black pepper and cloves. It is for such a variety of aromas that he received the name all spice, that is, a spice for everything (universal purpose).
By taste, pimento is less burning than black pepper, has freshness and lightness. Black pepper has a sharp, burning taste and has a rather bright, sharp specific smell. At the store shelves, both types are sold in the form of whole grains or powder.
Important! Experts recommend keeping the pimento in the form of peas, because in a crushed state, its aroma quickly disappears.
Description and features of pepper
Peas and allspice also differ in their chemical composition and nutritional value, which determine their further use.
Fragrant
Fragrant has a number of useful qualities, which are due to its rich composition, presented:
- essential oils - rejuvenate the body, fight viruses and bacteria, have a general strengthening effect;
- vitamins A, B - normalize the work of the cardiovascular system, activate brain activity, cleanse the body, serve as a prevention of premature aging;
- vitamin C - improves the immune system, protects against pathogenic organisms;
- calcium - strengthens bone and muscle tissue, contributes to the proper development of the skeleton;
- iron - enriches blood with oxygen, prevents the development of anemia;
- magnesium - beneficially affects the work of the heart, strengthens blood vessels, normalizes the work of the central nervous system.
Thanks to a whole set of useful components in the composition, regular consumption of fragrant spices makes it possible:
- restore strength and restore vitality;
- to establish the functioning of the digestive system;
- improve metabolic processes;
- to overcome harmful pathogenic bacteria and viruses;
- increase the body's resistance to colds;
- strengthen the immune system.
Important! The described seasoning should be stored separately from all other spices, since it has the ability to accumulate extraneous odors.
Black peas
Black peas also have an extremely wide range of valuable qualities.
In its composition are present:
- vitamin A and group B;
- Vitamin E - responsible for youthful skin, improves the condition of the skin;
- Vitamin K - serves to prevent the formation of blood clots, is responsible for blood coagulation;
- ascorbic acid - strengthens the immune system, increases the protective functions of the body;
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- sodium - is responsible for the full development and growth of the body, maintains a normal water-salt balance in the cells;
- phosphorus - is responsible for the strength of bone tissue and tooth enamel, takes part in all energy processes.
The seasoning in question has a pronounced immunomodulatory, general strengthening, antibacterial, anti-aging, cleansing effect and allows you to:
- successfully fight against various viruses, bacteria and infections;
- improve your mood, cheer up;
- protect cells from the negative effects of free radicals, which contribute to the aging of the body;
- prevent the development of heart attacks, strokes, angina pectoris.
Using black peas, you can improve vision, restore bowel function, eliminate bacteria, normalize blood pressure, and get rid of the negative effects of intoxication.
Did you know? A unique alkaloid substance, capsaicin, gives the pepper stiffness. There is a special Scovilla scale that determines the coefficient of hotness - for example, Carolina Reaper, containing 2 million 200 thousand units of hotness, is recognized as the most acute in the world.
The use of allspice and black pepper
Due to the extensive taste and medicinal qualities, allspice and black pepper are successfully used in the culinary and traditional medicine fields. Of course, the main field of application of spices is cooking. Pimento as a spice with an amazing bright aroma and spicy taste is used in the preparation of a wide variety of meat, fish, and vegetable preparations. It is wonderful in the composition of sauces, fillings, marinades.
It is added to soups, stews, cereals. Surprisingly, chopped sweet peas are an excellent addition to pastries, jams, cakes, bread and chocolate. No less used is black peas. It is the best component of preservation of vegetables, first and second courses, vegetable, meat or fish salads.
The use of this spice allows you to enhance the taste and aroma of food, give it a special sharpness and originality. The described spices have found application in the field of traditional medicine. Tinctures from them are used for flatulence, colds, high blood pressure, for the treatment of rheumatism, indigestion and bloating. Pepper, both black and fragrant, is one of the main ingredients in losing weight, as it accelerates metabolic processes, improves the functioning of the digestive tract, allows you to burn fats faster, and thereby get rid of extra pounds.
Pepper is the most popular spice, which is used with pleasure by eminent world chefs and ordinary housewives. If you want to give the dish an original, bright aroma and spicy taste, then it is recommended to use pimento. In order to emphasize the taste of the food and make it more spicy, it is better to use black peas. In any case, the dish will turn out to be spicy, aromatic and extremely healthy.
