Pimenta Berry Oleoresin

#### Pimenta Berry Oleoresin. The steam distillation of crushed pimenta berries requires up to 12 hours of operation in order to exhaust the plant material completely. This prolonged exposure to hot steam is not without significant effect upon the chemical composition of the essential oil and other components of the fruits. Under the monograph **Clove Bud Oil, it **was mentioned that this oil contained **Caryophyllene**, a sesquiterpene. Caryophyllene is not present in non-distilled extracts of clove buds. The same can be said about pimenta berries. Since caryophyllene has a distinct dry-woody odor, a rather unpleasant flavor, and tends to depress the odor and flavor of these oils, there are good reasons for avoiding this sesquiterpene. Caryophyllene is present in pimenta berry oil. But when the berries (fruits) are extracted with petroleum ether, benzene or other hydrocarbon solvent, the resulting extract does not contain caryophyllene. Yet, the exhaust material in the extractor is practically odorless. Pimenta berry oleoresin is a prepared oleoresin. It contains all the essential oil present in the fruits, together with some resinous matter, a bitter tannin derivative (characteristic!), plant colorants (more or less, according to the type of solvent used), a bitter alkaloid and a fatty (fixed) oil which can be eliminated by freezing or by selective solvent extraction (second extraction with slightly diluted alcohol, chilling, filtering and evaporation produces an **Absolute**** **of pimenta berries). The bitter principles, too, can be removed through the use of selective solvents or chemical treatment. Direct extraction of the crushed berries with diluted alcohol yields a rather dark extract, but leaves out the annoying fatty oil. Pimenta berry oleoresin (or **Pimenta Berry Absolute**) is usually a dark brown viscous liquid or heterogeneous mass of a grainy paste at the bottom of an oily liquid. In the latter case it should be stirred thoroughly prior to use. In respect to flavor, it is superior to the essential oil by far. The sweetness and naturalness is striking, and the small amounts of resinous matter, etc. give the extract an exceptional tenacity and richness in body. Only very few supply houses offer this product, but a great number of the larger flavor extract consumers prepare their own type of pimenta berry extract according to specific needs for spice blends to the canning industry, etc. An **Ultrasonic**** **extract of pimenta berries has been prepared and is available from a well-known Grasse house.