Where is nutmeg from

It is separated from the outer coat the mace and sold whole or ground up and packaged. Nutmeg has a very interesting history , dating all the way back to the 1st century A.

It was a treasured spice, considered high currency for trade, and was even the cause of war; the Dutch conquested the Banda Islands, which ended in a massacre, to monopolize the nutmeg trade. This resulted in the establishment of the Dutch East India Company, an amalgamation of several Dutch trading companies.

Although both spices come from the same tree, nutmeg and mace do differ from each other. The mace, which is the outer coating of the nutmeg seed, is removed first and ground into a red-colored spice, while the nutmeg pit or seed can either be kept whole or ground up.

Nutmeg has a milder taste compared to mace and is sweeter and more delicate; mace is a little spicier and can be described as a combination of pepper and cinnamon. Even though they grow as one, they are rarely used together in a recipe.

Nutmeg can be purchased as the whole seed or ground in a container. Grating the seed directly into a recipe will impart a fresher, cleaner taste than using store-bought ground nutmeg. Whole nutmeg is approximately the size of an apricot pit and will last a very long time while pre-ground nutmeg has a shorter shelf life.

Nutty and slightly sweet, nutmeg is an intense spice that has a strong and distinct aroma. For those who are more sensitive to heat, nutmeg might seem almost spicy. Nutmeg has a long culinary history and can be part of both sweet and savory dishes. It can be used whole and grated directly into a recipe or measured or shaken from a canister of pre-ground nutmeg. To use whole nutmeg, you will need a microplane or nutmeg grater to shave off a small portion of the seed.

When including nutmeg, make sure not to use a heavy hand, as this intense spice can easily overpower the flavors of a dish. It was considered a very rare and precious ingredient for a long period of time. Emperor Henry VI spread nutmeg all over the streets of Rome before his coronation to create a sweet smelling environment. Nutmeg was fashionable among the wealthy because it was believed to induce hallucinations.

Wealthy gentlemen would use nutmeg grinders to grind this spice into alcoholic drinks. Nutmeg was also baked into the pastries, pies, and cakes. Only a small group of traders knew where the spice was actually from and they sold it for very large sums. During the 17 th century, the Dutch waged a bloody war in order to gain control of the nutmeg production. They took large amounts of this spice to Holland and stored it in a giant warehouse to keep control of distribution.

The shell is then removed to reveal the valuable egg-shaped edible nutmeg. Second-rate nuts are pressed for the oil, which is used in perfumes and in the food industry. Botanically known as Myristica fragrans , the nutmeg tree originates in Banda, the largest of the Molucca spice islands of Indonesia. The English word nutmeg comes from the Latin nux , meaning nut, and muscat , meaning musky.

There is evidence that both nutmeg and mace were discovered as early as the 1st century A. In the 6th century, nutmegs were brought by Arab merchants to Constantinople. But it was the s when nutmeg became worthy of starting wars. The Dutch waged a bloody war, including the massacre and enslavement of the inhabitants of the island of Banda, just to control nutmeg production in the East Indies.

Later, during negotiations over the Island of Manhattan, the Dutch traded the island for control over a nutmeg-producing island owned by the British. You may be wondering why a spice we use to sprinkle over a Christmastime beverage would cause so much blood and turmoil. Turns out nutmeg was fashionable among the wealthy as a hallucinogenic; the intoxicating spice could make you feel as if you were floating. Nutmeg pairs well with savory dishes too.

As a baking spice, nutmeg is often found alongside cinnamon, cloves, anise, allspice, cardamom, and ginger. In savory situations, nutmeg is commonly blended with cumin, black pepper, coriander, sage, thyme, chile peppers, mustard seed, and turmeric.

Sage pairs especially well with nutmeg, as showcased by our Bronzeville Rib Rub. Cheeses also pair well with nutmeg, parmesan being a standout example. Since pumpkins, squash, and nutmeg are often synonymous with each other, the following recipe takes these flavors and shifts your expectations in a deliciously savory way. This pasta dish can be a meal on its own, but could be prepared with scallops, pork, or mushrooms. If you have a favorite recipe that calls for nutmeg, question about spices, or spicy anecdote, we want to know about it.

Email us at spices thespicehouse. I would not dream of Christmas baking or making eggnog without using freshly grated nutmeg. My sister lives in Connecticut. And it is called The Nutmeg State. I just assumed that there must be nutmeg trees grown there. However, after reading this, would nutmeg trees even grow there? I wonder about the states name!