About the history
The earliest known usage of nutmeg is on the island of Pulau Ai around 3,500 years ago based on residue found on ceramic potshards. Until the mid-nineteenth century, the group of islands off of the Banda Islands (another name for the “Spice Islands”) was the only location for the production of nutmeg in the world. The Portuguese, who landed first at these islands, discovered the spice, when guided via Java from Europe. During their one month stay, they bought and filled their ships with nutmeg and other tropical fruits from Banda Islands. This was the way the nut was first introduced to Europe.
Other produce
Nutmeg is known to have been a prized and costly spice in European medieval cuisine—but not only that! It also became a flavored medicinal and preservative agent.
It can also be made into an oil—usually colorless or light yellow—that smells and tastes of nutmeg. It is used as a natural food flavoring in baked goods, syrups, beverages and sweets. The essential oil is also used in the manufacturing of toothpaste and cough syrups.
Another interesting product is nutmeg butter—identified by its characteristic aroma. It is a creamy yellow, semi-solid butter which has been CO2 extracted from the nutmeg fruit. About 75% (by weight) of nutmeg butter is trimyristin, which can be turned into myristic acid, a 14-carbon fatty acid, which can be used as a replacement for cocoa butter. It can also be mixed with other fats like cottonseed oil or palm oil, and has applications as an industrial lubricant. It comes in soft, crumbly pieces and has a low melting point. Having the beautiful, warm and spicy aroma of nutmeg, it can be added to fragrance formulations such as body butters, balms, and hair products.
Of course, I could fill pages with a lot more details about this small, but oh-so powerful nut! As for now, I will leave you with this introduction to a very old-known fruit, grown and cultivated in Indonesia with so classic and delicious a taste in our daily diets—whether it is for main dishes, desserts, bakeries or drinks!
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