nutmeg, (Myristica fragrans), tropical evergreen tree (family Myristicaceae) and the spice made of its seed. The tree is native to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia and is principally cultivated there and in the West Indies.
What country produces the best nutmeg?
Indonesia
Indonesia is the largest world producer of nutmeg and mace and accounts for three-quarters of world production and export. Grenada is the second largest producer and exporter.
How can you tell good nutmeg?
Quality nutmeg has a warm brown closer to the reddish tint. It can contain a little dark inclusions – these are parts of the nut in which the essential oil has appeared. Quality nutmeg has a characteristic strong aroma.
What island is a leading producer of nutmeg?
Little Grenada or “Spice Island” is only 134 square miles, but is responsible for more than 20 per cent of the world’s nutmeg production— second only to Indonesia, which produces around seventy five per cent of nutmeg globally.
What country does nutmeg come from?
Indonesia
Nutmeg originated in the Banda Islands of Indonesia, and was discovered by the Portuguese in 1512. The importance of the nutmeg seed was propagated by the Dutch. The name nutmeg is derived from the Latin nux muscatus, meaning “musky nut.” In India, nutmeg is known as Jaiphal.
Where is nutmeg grown today?
Nutmeg is a spice made from the seeds of a tropical evergreen tree, Myristica. Today, nutmeg is grown and produced in tropical locations from Indonesia to the West Indies.
What part of nutmeg do we eat?
Nutmeg, as we know it, is found in the seed (nut), which after drying produces two different spices, nutmeg and mace.
What does nutmeg do for a man?
Some animal studies show that nutmeg may enhance sex drive and performance. In one study, male rats that were given high doses of nutmeg extract (227 mg per pound or 500 mg per kg of body weight) experienced significant increases in sexual activity and sexual performance time compared to a control group ( 13 ).
Is there fake nutmeg?
Over time, Yankee peddlers developed a reputation for selling fake nutmegs made of carved wood. Customers unfamiliar with the native form of the spice decided they had been sold a counterfeit or “wooden nutmegs” after futilely trying to grind the unusually hard seed instead of the hard-aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree.
Does nutmeg have any health benefits?
Nutmeg is a rich source of antioxidants, which help protect against the signs of aging and serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and liver disease. Nutmeg oil is used in several dental products.
Which country is known as the spice island?
Moluccas, Indonesian Maluku, also known as Spice Islands, Indonesian islands of the Malay Archipelago, lying between the islands of Celebes to the west and New Guinea to the east.
What Caribbean nation grows more than 20% of the world’s nutmeg?
Grenada
Grenada: The Caribbean Island That Grows 20% of the World’s Nutmeg.
Can you eat nutmeg shell?
the shell is mace, the inside is nutmeg. go easy on it mind, it’s poisonous in any quantity (like if you tipped a whole jar in something by mistake).
Is nutmeg grown in the US?
Nutmeg hails from the Indonesian Islands, once called the Spice Islands. Nutmeg grows successfully in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11.
Where does nutmeg grow in the United States?
Nutmeg trees can grow in USDA zones 10 and 11. As a tropical tree, nutmeg likes it hot, in mostly sunny locations with some dappled shade. Choose a protected site if your area is prone to gusty winds.
Why was nutmeg so valuable?
So, why was nutmeg so valuable? Well, Krondl likens it to the iPhone of the 1600s. It was fashionable among the wealthy. It was exotic and potent enough to induce hallucinations — or at least a nutmeg bender, as detailed in this account from The Atlantic.
What is the difference between East and West Indies nutmeg?
Mace from the West Indies is yellowish brown in color while mace from East Indian nutmeg is orange red when dried. The yield of mace is much less than nutmeg. Under the red covering is the dark shiny nut which contains the oval shaped nutmeg seed.
How can you tell if a nutmeg is male or female?
The result of morphological identification provided from 3 research farm location indicated that female nutmeg was higher, with longer and wider leaf, more vein, bigger diameter of stem and branching angle as compared to male nutmeg.
What climate does nutmeg grow in?
tropical
Nutmeg’s perfect temperature is between 77°F and 86°F, making USDA zones 10-11 perfect for this tropical evergreen.
What is a single nutmeg called?
When nutmeg is fully mature, it splits in two, exposing a crimson-colored aril, the mace, surrounding a single shiny brown seed. The fleshy arils surrounding the nutmeg seed are the source of the spice mace.
Do you crack nutmeg before grating?
Begin by cracking open the nutmeg shell on a cutting board. You can do this by pressing down hard on the whole seed with a large knife or heavy pan. Peel away the shell and then finely grate the whole nutmeg seed at a forty-five-degree angle.