NUTMEG (Myristica fragrans)

About the crop

The nutmeg tree is unique among spices as the donor of two distinct spices of commerce.  Nutmeg is the seed of an apricot-like fruit of the nutmeg tree and mace is its aril a thin leathery tissue spread over the seed coat. Both spices are strongly aromatic, resinous and warm in taste. Mace is generally said to have a finer aroma than nutmeg. Nutmeg quickly loses its fragrance when ground. Commercial part of this tree spice is seed. Naturally, nutmeg is limited to the Banda Islands, a tiny archipelago in Eastern Indonesia (Moluccas).

Characteristics

The nutmeg tree is a large evergreen tree spice belonging to Myristicaceae family and grows to a height of about 18 m. It produces fruits eight to nine years after planting. The fruit of nutmeg tree, which is similar in colour and size to apricot, splits when ripe revealing the brilliant red arils encasing the brown nut. The red arils on drying become orange in colour and are the mace of commerce. The nut is also dried until the kernel inside rattles.

Last updated: 20-05-2008