Sweet, aromatic flavor of nutmeg perfectly matches with sauces, dishes made of meat and potato, soups, various pastries, cookies and cakes. Myristica fragrans is specialized for the pollination by beetle, scientifically known as Formicomus braminus. The tree is native to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia. When ripe the husk splits into two halves along a ridge running the length of the fruit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The fruit is a pendulous drupe, similar in appearance to an apricot. Its branches are organized in the series of rows. Mace has more delicate taste than nutmeg and it is often used as food colorant (it changes the color of the food into bright orange). It is also a commercial source of an essential oil and nutmeg butter. Saint Theodore the Studite (ca. “male” or staminate flowers and “female” or carpellate flowers are borne on different plants, although occasional individuals produce both kinds of flower. In Elizabethan times, it was believed that nutmeg could ward off the plague, so nutmeg was very popular. of nutmeg powder, or 1 to 3 whole nutmeg seeds, causes illness in most people. People cultivate Myristica fragrans because of the fruit, better known as nutmeg, that is used as spice. Mace’s flavor is similar to nutmeg but more delicate ; it is used to flavor baked goods, meat, fish, vegetables and in preserving and pickling. The buzz can last one to two days and can be hallucinogenic, much like LSD. It really is indigenous to islands near Indonesia, however is currently a globally utilized spice. Today, nutmeg is grown in Africa, South America and South Asia, from where it is exported to Europe and North America. The nutmeg tree is native to the Moluccas, a group of islands in eastern Indonesia, also known as the Spice Islands. Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus Myristica. Outer shell of the fruit needs to be discarded after the harvest. Mace is pungent. Until the mid-19th century, the Spice Islands, was the only location of the production of the spices nutmeg and mace in the world. Male and female flowers develop on separate trees (dioecious plant). Fruit is rich source of aromatic, essential oils that have application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. Some claim that wooden nutmegs were actually sold, but they do not give either the time or the place.”. Nutmeg is popularly used to … Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) Facts Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) Facts Myristica fragrans is an evergreen tree that belongs to the nutmeg family. Myristica fragrans has elliptic, glossy leaves. For centuries, nutmeg has been a well-valued spice not only because of its distinct sweet taste but also because of its medicinal value. The spice nutmeg has a distinctive pungent fragrance and a warm slightly sweet… The nutmeg plant itself can grow up to 50 feet tall and produces dark green leaves and waxy yellow flowers. It is one of the highly prized spices known since antiquity for its aromatic, aphrodisiac, and curative properties. 4. Nutmeg is known to impact health in many ways because of its nutritive content of vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds related to the essential oils. "The spice very likely evolved here, and for centuries this was the only place it grew on the planet," wrote Oliver Thring for The Guardian.As early as the 6th century, the pip of the fruit of the Myristica fragrans tree had made its way to Byzantium, the city that is now Istanbul, over 7,400 miles away from the tiny Banda Islands. These beneficial components include dietary fiber, manganese, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, copper, and macelignan. Mace is separated from the nutmeg, flattened, dried and usually ground into powder. A young nutmeg tree thrives in a partially shaded but warm and humid environment. Myristica fragrans is a dark-leaved evergreen tree cultivated for two spices derived from its fruit: nutmeg, from its seed, and mace, from the seed covering. The nutmeg family, Myristicaceae, order Magnoliales, consists of evergreen trees of the tropical rain forests. Myristica fragrans can reach 50 to 60 feet in height. 10.000 to 20.000 tons of nutmeg are produced each year. The other products from nutmeg that are commonly used are essential oil and nutmeg butter. Nutmeg is a spice made from the seed of the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrant), a native Indonesian evergreen tree that is the source of two popular spices: nutmeg and mace.Nutmeg is the inner seed, while mace is the red, lace-like substance that covers the seed. They are alternately arranged on the branches. The nutmeg tree is evergreen, with oblong egg-shaped leaves and small, bell-like light yellow flowers that give off a distinct aroma when in bloom. Opposed to what the name suggests, nutmeg is not a nut, but a seed. When the mature fruit splits open, the nutmeg (stony endocarp or seed surrounded by a red, slightly fleshy network or aril) is exposed. For further information about these two products, we will explain about … The health benefits of nutmeg include ability to relieve pain, reduce insomnia, detoxify the body, helps digestion, brightens skin, protect the teeth and gums, helps lower blood pressure, increases circulation, prevents leukemiand and protect cognitive functionality against degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The alternately arranged leaves are dark green,5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) long by 2–7 cm (0.8–2.8 in) wide with petioles about 1 cm (0.4 in) long. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in … It is the seed of the fruit, similar to a walnut in appearance, which is … Today, Indonesia and Grenada dominate production and exports of both products, with world market shares of 75% and 20%, respectively. The stands on the Moluccas thrive in the shade under groves of lofty trees. Nutmeg is popular in many dishes and in baking. Known by the scientific name Myristica fragrans, nutmeg is warm, rich, slightly sweet, brownish-red spice obtained from the evergreen nutmeg tree, which produces both nutmeg and mace. Nutmeg is known to have been a prized and costly spice in European medieval cuisine as a flavoring, medicinal, and preservative agent. 3. Then fill it with sand, cow-dung powder, and manure before planting the saplings. The fruit has a fleshy husk. Pleasantly aromatic, nutmeg is actually a seed (kernel) of the fruit from the Myristica fragrans tree. Nutmeg is the decorticated seed of an evergreen called Myristica Fragrans, a tree that can grow to a height of 20 metres. So it is usually recommended to plant these in the field leaving more than 5 meters (8 to 10 meters is optimum) of space in between. Nutmeg has a distinctive pungent fragrance and a warm slightly sweet taste; it is used to flavor many kinds of baked goods, confections, puddings, potatoes, meats, sausages, sauces, vegetables, and such beverages as eggnog. Crushed leaves emit pleasant aroma. Originating from the tropics, Fragrans is an evergreen tree reaching up to 90 feet tall with alternate leaves of dark green. Nutmeg is among two spices which grow on an evergreen tree together with the medical classification Myristica fragrans, also referred to as typical nutmeg. Trees produce smooth yellow ovoid or pear-shaped fruits, 6–9 cm (2.4–3.5 in) long with a diameter of 3.5–5 cm (1.4–2.0 in). The fruit, which is called a drupe or a nutmeg apple, is similar in appearance to a peach or an apricot. The seed is roughly egg-shaped and about 20 to 30 mm ling and 15 to 18 mm wide, weighing about 5 to 10 g dried. Myristica (commonly known as the Nutmeg Tree species) is a genus of plants of concern and found in the following area (s): Australia, Brunei Darussalam, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka. 2. From these locations they were transplanted to their other colonial holdings elsewhere, notably Zanzibar and Grenada. There is a spice blend called Chinese Five Spice, which contains ingredients that match the five flavors, including sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and pungent. Nutmeg dries in the sun for several days or weeks. The alternately arranged leaves are dark green,5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) long by 2–7 cm (0.8–2.8 in) wide with petioles about 1 cm (0.4 in) long. The Scoville scale was created by Wilbur Scoville. The most common product from Indonesian Nutmeg is the seed. In one case, an eight-year-old child ate just 14 grams (0.5 ounce) of nutmeg and died from the effects, according to A.K. Nutmeg contains myristicin, a natural compound that has mind-altering effects if ingested in large doses. Interesting facts about Yorkshire Terriers. Nutmeg and mace are the output of this tree. Peanut and tree nut allergies affect millions of Americans. Around 1600 it became important as an expensive commercial spice in the Western world and was the subject of Dutch plots to keep prices high and of English and French counterplots to obtain fertile seeds for transplantation. The pulp of the fruit may be eaten locally. Nutmeg tree is a small evergreen tree, usually 5–13 m (16–43 ft) tall, but occasionally reaching 20 m (66 ft). Nutmeg tree’s canopy spread nearly 5 meters when fully grown. It originates from the Spice Islands in Indonesia, but it can be found in tropical areas around the world today. It measures the heat of a chile. It originates from the Spice Islands in Indonesia, but it can be found in tropical areas around the world today. The branches of the tree spread in … Exactly how much nutmeg you can tolerate before becoming ill depends partly on your body mass. Demetriades, M.D., of University College London Hospital. Male flowers are arranged in groups of 1 to 10 flowers. Nutmeg tree is a small evergreen tree, usually 5–13 m (16–43 ft) tall, but occasionally reaching 20 m (66 ft). Nutmeg is the common name for a dark-leaved evergreen tree, Myristica fragrans, that is cultivated for two spices derived from its fruit, “nutmeg” and “mace.”. From 1 to 3 tbsp. Though small in size, the seeds from which nutmeg is derived are … The flowers are bell-shaped, pale yellow and somewhat waxy and fleshy. In nutmeg tree (family Myristicaceae) and the spice made of its seed. Nutmegs are evergreen trees, native to the rainforest of Indonesian Moluccas Island, also known as the Spice Islands. Coming from the genus Myristica, nutmeg is cultivated for two spices obtained from its fruits, including nutmeg and mace.While mace is not argued upon so much, nutmeg is a constant source of worry for those with a tree nut allergy.The big question remains – is nutmeg a nut? They yield fruit eight years after sowing, reach their prime in 25 years, and bear fruit for 60 years or longer. The large seed of these trees garners two noteworthy spices: nutmeg is the kernel of the seed when ground, while mace is the grated red to orange covering, or aril, which surrounds the seed. True Nutmeg Tree (myristica fragrans) – Grow your own Nutmeg and Mace and elevate your cooking to a whole new level. Myristica fragrans is perennial plant that can survive more than 20 years in the wild. 758 C.E. – ca. Myristica fragrans starts to produce fruit 7 to 9 years after planting. Ground nutmeg quickly loses the flavor. Space the hole 40 to 50 feet away from other trees or buildings. Myristica fragrans is an evergreen tree that belongs to the nutmeg family. They are listed as critically endangered by IUCN. The more delicate flavor of mace makes this spice much more expensive than nutmeg; and also because its yield is about ten times less that of nutmeg. Ground nutmeg can be smoked and used in combination with various beverages. It is semisolid, reddish-brown in colour, and tastes and smells of nutmeg. They’re most common in children, but adults can also develop these allergies. Nutmeg Tree: Facts Here is some general information on nutmeg trees. The nutmeg tree is indigenous to the Caribbean, Southern India as well as other tropical regions of the world. Place a newly germinated nutmeg tree in an indoor area that receives four to six hours of sunlight a day, such as a west-facing conservatory or windowsill.Mist the young tree twice a day with clean water from a fine mist sprayer, coating the foliage but stopping before water drips from the plant. Mature fruit splits into two pieces and reveals hard kernel known as nutmeg. Oils can be also applied externally to decrease pain in the muscles and joints (that are result of rheumatism). Nutmeg trees are evergreens native to the Moluccas (Spice Islands) and other tropical islands of the East Indies. Nutmeg is native to Indonesia's Banda Islands. California nutmeg is an evergreen tree growing to 15–25 m tall, with a trunk diameter of 0.5–1 m (exceptionally 2 m); the crown is conical in overall shape, with whorled branches. Nutmeg is rich source of vitamins of the B group, vitamin A and C and minerals such as copper, potassium, calcium and manganese. Greatest productivity can be expected after 20 years. The nutmeg tree is native to the Banda Islands of Indonesia and it produces two different spices: Nutmeg and Mace. This slow-growing evergreen grows to more than 20 m and is cultivated in India, Ceylon, Malaysia, and Granada.