Most cuisines are incomplete if there are no spices added. This is more so in Indian cuisines. There are different type of spices – pepper, clove, saffron cardamom, cinnamon. You can find the full list
here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_spices
None among these spices are anywhere near the nutmeg although many think Saffron could take the lead. Saffron however is used in selective dishes. Also, Saffron is beyond the reach of the common man.
Every part of this nut is used for various cuisines including cakes and desserts.
We have this tree in our garden.It took about 3 years for it to start yielding and when I spotted the first tiny white flower that made my day The nut is encased in a yellow covering and when it is fully ripe the outer case will split open and drops down. Then nut has a red covering which is called mace. This is very expensive and has a strong aroma used in desserts and biryanis. The tree lives up to many years and grows up to a height of aboug 20 feet.
This spice as any other spice has medicinal value. Just a bit of scraping for example, added in hot milk with an egg whipped can clear the lungs. This used to be our first therapy before consulting any doctor.
Some make jam from the outer covering. The jam gets the aroma of the shell which spells like the nutmeg.
It is a joy to go out in the garden and look for the nutmeg fruit which would have dropped. It is collected and the mace separated. It is then dried in the open sun.
There is great demand for this spice. We have dealers in spices. They buy this spice from us at wholesale rates but they sell it in the market at exorbitant rates.
Most birds love to spend their time on this tree chirping away.
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I am not familiar with this nutmeg. I have not seen here in our country. The way I look at it, it is similar to our local fruit called Santol, but the inner meat is not that color red. It has two or three seeds inside. It has no medicinal value, unlike this nutmeg. However, when it is ripe, it is too delicious, sweet and yummy.
I have to search on this if we have here in our locality.
Rachel Ray, famous TV cook, says you must out nutmeg in fresh spinach when you cook it. I a grateful for that cooking tip. :)
Nutmeg is a popular spice that has a long list of associated health benefits, including its ability to relieve pain, soothe indigestion, strengthen cognitive function, detoxify the body, boost skin health, alleviate oral conditions, reduce insomnia, increase immune system function, and prevent leukemia, and improve blood circulation.
While nutmeg is only a spice that is used sparingly in dishes, it can still impact your health in a variety of ways, mainly due to its nutritive content of vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds related to the essential oils. These beneficial components include dietary fiber, manganese, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, copper, and macelignan.
When you grind nutmeg into a powder, it retains its fiber content, which can stimulate the digestive process by promoting peristaltic motion in the smooth muscles of the intestine.
Also, it induces the secretion of various gastric and intestinal juices that ease the digestive process. Since fiber can bulk up the bowel movements, it reduces the frequency and discomfort of constipation and other intestinal issues.