Pimento wood is what gives true jerk BBQ its unique flavor. Pimento wood is the only wood that Jamaicans use to jerk chicken. The pimento wood tree gives us pimento berries, also known as allspice, pimento wood for smoking, sticks to make a grill, and leaves to add additional smoky aroma to jerk cooking.
Jerk chicken gets its flavor from pimento wood. The chicken grills on a bed of wet pimento leaves and sticks. The smoking wood infuses the meat, to the bone, with robust flavor. Aromatic with deep citrusy and smoky notes, the wood makes all the difference in the world.
by jerkmaster January 15, 2008