Nutmeg, Myristica Fragrans — Spices of Kerala

March 24th, 2007 | admin

Nutmeg is a strongly aromatic spice, grown abundantly throughout Kerala. This tree was introduced in India by British East India Company during days of colonial rule.

The trees grow to about 20 meters height. The fruit is perfectly globular and lightly colored. When ripe, the fruit splits open to reveal a thickly black seed, which is covered with patchy red skin. The shell of the seed is broken to collect the kernels, which are grayish and oval. It has strong aroma and is used in different culinary preparations and in the manufacturing of perfumes.