Nutmeg (scientific name: Myristica Fragrans) is the seed of an evergreen tree native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and India. It is also now grown extensively in the Caribbean.
What Caribbean island grows nutmeg?
Grenada
Grenada: The Caribbean Island That Grows 20% of the World’s Nutmeg.
How did nutmeg get to the Caribbean?
In 1714 cocoa, coffee and cotton were brought to the island and in 1782, King George III’s botanical advisor Sir Joseph Banks introduced nutmeg to Grenada. There were two key reasons for this: Grenada’s soil was ideal for growing nutmeg; Grenada was closer to Europe than the Dutch East Indies.
What country is nutmeg grown in?
Indonesia
Nutmeg is an evergreen tree belonging to the family Myrticaceae. It is indigenous to Moluccas in Indonesia, but is now found in other countries like Grenada, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. The commercial products of the tree are nutmegs, mace, their essential oils, extracted oleoresins, and nutmeg butter.
Does nutmeg grow in Jamaica?
Nutmeg is a spice that all Jamaicans and other Caribbeans are very familiar. Grenada is perhaps better known for nutmeg than Jamaica, however, you can find nutmeg trees growing all over the island. The seed from the tree (Myristica fragrans) is called nutmeg and the red aril covering the seed is called mace.
Which Caribbean island is known for its spices?
Grenada
Grenada, which gained its independence from Britain in 1974, lies at the end of the Grenadines and 515 miles northeast of Venezuela. It has been an important part of the Caribbean for centuries, having earned the name “the Spice Island” for its wealth of nutmeg, allspice, clove and cinnamon.
What spice is Grenada famous for?
Grenada – Spice Isle of the Caribbean
Grenada has it’s own Nutmeg Spice Festival, such is its importance in culture and industry here. The nutmeg is used as symbol on the national flag and many other promotional materials. Nutmeg is the main reason the island is now called the “Spice Isle”.
Why was nutmeg so valuable?
So, why was nutmeg so valuable? Well, Krondl likens it to the iPhone of the 1600s. It was fashionable among the wealthy. It was exotic and potent enough to induce hallucinations — or at least a nutmeg bender, as detailed in this account from The Atlantic.
What country uses the most nutmeg?
Nutmeg is derived from the seeds of the Myristica fragrans or fragrant nutmeg tree.
The World’s Largest Exporters of Nutmeg.
| Rank | Country | Export Value (Millions of US Dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 107 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 96.6 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 27.1 |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | 22.7 |
What does nutmeg do for a woman?
03/7Here’s why women must have a pinch of nutmeg everyday!
Even according to Ayurveda, this spice helps in calming the nervous system and improves blood circulation to the reproductive organs. This is the reason why it has been deemed as women’s viagra.
Does Grenada produce nutmeg?
Little Grenada or “Spice Island” is only 134 square miles, but is responsible for more than 20 per cent of the world’s nutmeg production— second only to Indonesia, which produces around seventy five per cent of nutmeg globally.
Where does the best nutmeg come from?
Nutmeg trees grow best on tropical, humid islands with sandy soil. The Spice House’s premium nutmeg and mace come from the Caribbean island of Grenada, where it is still harvested by hand.
What spices are grown in Jamaica?
The main agricultural spices regulated by JACRA are grown in the following major production areas in Jamaica:
- Pimento – St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St, Ann, Portland and St. Mary.
- Nutmeg – St. Mary, St.
- Ginger – St. James, Hanover, Trelawny, Westmoreland, Clarendon, Portland, St.
- Turmeric – Westmoreland and Hanover.
What is nutmeg in Swahili?
Nutmeg translate to Swahili meanings: kungumanga. In other words, kungumanga in Swahili is Nutmeg in English.
Who brought nutmeg to Grenada?
The nutmeg tree ( Myristica fragrans ), which grows to 75 feet at maturity, was introduced to Grenada in the middle 1800s by local planters returning from Indonesia, where they had been taken to help expand cocoa production.
What spices are native to the Caribbean?
These are the herbs and spices of the Caribbean:
- Allspice. Allspice is also known as pimenta and is actually a small berry.
- Ginger. Ginger is used in various cuisines throughout the world.
- Cinnamon.
- Nutmeg.
- Cloves.
- Garlic.
- Paprika.
What country owns Grenada?
the United Kingdom
The federation ended in 1962, after which Grenada attempted to federate with the remaining territories in the Windward Islands, as well as with Barbados and the Leeward Islands. On March 3, 1967, however, the island became a self-governing state in association with the United Kingdom.
How did nutmeg get to Grenada?
The nutmeg tree (Myristica Fragrans), which grows to 75 feet at maturity, was introduced to Grenada in the middle 1800s by local planters returning from Indonesia, where they had been taken to help expand cocoa production.
What was nutmeg originally used for?
Historically, grated nutmeg was used as a sachet, and the Romans used it as incense. 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.
Can I grow a nutmeg tree?
Nutmeg trees can grow in USDA zones 10 and 11. As a tropical tree, nutmeg likes it hot, in mostly sunny locations with some dappled shade. Choose a protected site if your area is prone to gusty winds. Nutmeg trees should be planted in rich, organic soil with a medium texture and low salinity.
Is nutmeg good for your health?
Nutmeg is a rich source of antioxidants, which help protect against the signs of aging and serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and liver disease. Nutmeg oil is used in several dental products.
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