Latin Name : | Pimenta racemosa |
English Name : | St-Thomas Bay |
French Name : | Bay de St-Thomas, Bois d’inde |
Family : | Myrtaceae |
Origin : | Jamaica, Dominica |
History and Origin
Pimenta racemosa is a tree of the myrtaceae family that grows mainly on the Caribbean Islands. Its leaves and berries are distilled with alcohol to give a lotion called "bay rum", used as an after-shave, toilet water or for treating muscular aches and pains. The berries are used in many creole dishes for their warm and spicy aroma, reminding of clove.