About Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) J.W.Moore
Pimenta racemosa is a tree that reaches 4 to 12 meters in height. It produces white flowers around 10 millimeters wide, which develop into black, oval fruits measuring 7 to 12 millimeters. P. racemosa grows best under bright sunshine with regular irrigation. This species is widely introduced outside its native range, can become an invasive weed, and is now widely cultivated in other tropical regions including Oceania. It is used as an ingredient in cooking. An essential oil distilled from this plant is used to make a fragrant cologne called bay rum. Despite sharing a name with types of flavored alcoholic beverages, the concentrated essential oil from the plant's fruit is toxic, making the final cologne product unsafe for drinking. The leaves of Pimenta racemosa are also used to make herbal teas.
