The Science of Spice

102 Spice Profiles

Native to the Banda Islands in the

Moluccas (Maluku) archipelago of

Indonesia, nutmeg has a complex,

violent history. Its source was initially

kept secret by traders who wanted to

protect their valuable commodity,

treasured for its rarity, flavour, and

apparent aphrodisiac and healing

properties. By the 16th century there

was such huge demand for nutmeg

in Europe that it was said to be more

precious than gold, triggering a race

to find and take control of its source.

Portugal conquered the Moluccas in

1511, then the Dutch wrested control

in 1599, and England seized two of

the Banda Islands in 1603. The spice

was so valued by the Dutch that they

struck a deal with England to take

back one of the islands in return for

one of their settlements in the New

World. The land they gave to England

was known then as New Amsterdam

• and today as New York City.

Region of cultivation

Nutmeg trees are grown throughout the

Maluku (Moluccas) islands of Indonesia, and

also in Sri Lanka, the Caribbean (notably

Grenada), and South Africa.

The plant

Nutmeg comes from a

tropical evergreen tree

that produces two

distinct spices: the seed

(nutmeg) and its lacy

covering (mace).

Powder

Nutmeg is available pre-ground, but its

flavour oils are among the quickest of all

spices to evaporate: far preferable to buy

whole and grate fresh.

Whole

Kernels keep for at least a year, in a sealed

container in a cool, dark place. Discard if

black spots develop.

Grows to at

least 16m

(40ft) high

Bell-shaped

flowers have a lily-

of-the-valley scent

Fleshy fruit

casing encloses

the woody seed

Kernels are

revealed after

cracking open

the seed casing

BOTANICAL NAME

Myristica fragrans

ALSO KNOWN AS

True nutmeg, fragrant nutmeg.

MAJOR FLAVOUR COMPOUND

Myristicin.

PARTS USED

Seed kernels.

METHOD OF CULTIVATION

The fruits are harvested several times a year;

one tree yields 10,000 or more nutmegs a year.

COMMERCIAL PREPARATION

Fruit is split open, dried, and the lacy aril

removed to make mace. Seeds shells are

cracked open to remove nutmegs.

NON-CULINARY USES

In pharmaceuticals, including tooth paste

and cough syrups. Mild pain-killing power

is used to treat toothache and joint pain.

SRI LANKA

MALUKU ISLANDS

NUTMEG

Bittersweet | Woody | Warm

Spice story

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