Latin Name : | Myristica fragrans |
English Name : | Nutmeg |
French Name : | Muscade |
Family : | Myristicaceae |
Origin : | India, Indonesia, Grenada, Sri Lanka |
History and Origin
Nutmeg grows wild in Maluku Islands, Indonesia, where it is also cultivated. Nutmeg is also cultivated in Sri Lanka and Grenada. It is the fruit of a tree reaching 20 meters in height with a greyish-brown smooth bark, dense foliage and small dull-yellow flowers.
Nutmeg is of course widely known as a spice. It is used grated as an aromatic for meat and soups as well as for the curry. In French Cuisine, it is notably used to aromatize scalloped potatoes.
Nutmeg’s therapeutic properties have also been known for centuries as a cure for digestive and renal disorders.