What Makes Nutmeg Unique?

It’s more of an earthy, nutty sweetness. That’s what makes it so versatile, and it’s why it can be added to savory dishes as well as sweet ones. Just know that a little goes a long way with the unique spice.

What is so special about nutmeg?

The spice has antibacterial properties that have proven particularly effective against oral pathogens that cause disease and bad breath. One study found that nutmeg acted as a potential antidepressant in male rats, and the spice has been used for its invigorating properties in folk medicine.

Why was nutmeg so sought after?

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 does nutmeg do for flavor?

What Does Nutmeg Taste Like? A popular spice available in both ground and whole form, nutmeg is known for its warm, nutty flavor, making it the perfect addition to comforting sweet and savory dishes. Once ground, nutmeg spice takes on a warm and aromatic flavor with notes of clove.

What properties does nutmeg have?

• Relives Pain. Nutmeg contains many essential volatile oils such as myristicin, elemicin, eugenol and safrole.
• Helps Treat Insomnia. Nutmeg has a calming effect when consumed in smaller doses.
• Helps Digestion.
• Brain Health.
• Treat Bad Breath.
• Gorgeous Skin.
• Blood Pressure and Circulation.

Does nutmeg thin your blood?

Other spices similar to cinnamon may be risky to use if you’re taking a blood thinner. Cloves, ginger and nutmeg, for example, are all anti-coagulants, as they inhibit the platelet activity responsible for blood clotting, according to the California Pacific Medical Center.

What is the story of nutmeg?

The English word nutmeg comes from the Latin nux, meaning nut, and muscat, meaning musky. There is evidence that both nutmeg and mace were discovered as early as the 1st century A.D. when Roman author Pliny speaks of a tree bearing nuts with two flavors.

Was nutmeg a cure for the plague?

During the Black Death, nutmeg commanded hysterical prices because desperate people believed it might ward off plague. Perhaps it did: fleas seem to dislike (pdf) the smell of nutmeg, so it’s just possible that someone carrying the spice might have avoided that fatal, final bite.

Why were cloves and nutmeg so valuable?

The Arabs were the first to use cloves and nutmeg extensively in food preparation. In fact, spices were greatly appreciated all across the Middle East for their fragrance and medicinal properties, as well as for their enhancement of flavor in food.

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.

What is nutmeg commonly used in?

Nutmeg, a pungent and a warm, slightly sweet tasting spice, is used to flavor many kinds of baked goods, confections, puddings, potatoes, meats, sausages, sauces, vegetables, and such beverages as eggnog.

What tastes good with nutmeg?

Nutmeg is a vital member of any mixed spice but especially good combined with cinnamon, the two of them creating an almost perfect welcoming, warming aroma. It also has a special affinity with cardamom; both are great on hot coffee and in or on coffee cake.

Is nutmeg good for anxiety?

According to ancient Greek and Roman culture, Nutmeg was used as a brain tonic, which helped in healing depression and anxiety. The oil of this spice had the potential to ease stress, anxiety and fatigue, which caused sluggishness of the brain and body.

Is nutmeg a Superfood?

Nutmeg contains dietary fiber, manganese, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, copper and macelignan. Together, these components create a superfood spice of sorts that can complement your health in more ways than one. Here are 5 nutmeg benefits that land it the list of health-boosting superfoods.

Does nutmeg give you energy?

Summary According to animal research, nutmeg may help boost mood, enhance blood sugar control, and reduce risk factors for heart disease. Studies in humans are needed to further investigate these potential health benefits.

Is nutmeg cancerous?

Ingestion of small amounts of nutmeg is harmless to the body, including the amounts called for in all standard recipes.

How does nutmeg affect the brain?

Works as a brain tonic: nutmeg can effectively stimulate your brain and had been used as a brain tonic in ancient times. It can eliminate fatigue, stress and even anxiety. Nutmeg has a natural organic compound called myristicin that works like magic in keeping your brain sharp while also improving your concentration.

What spice is considered a hallucinogenic?

Nutmeg is a popular spice that can give a person a “high” similar to that of some hallucinogenic drugs if they consume too much. The name for this is nutmeg intoxication. Nutmeg comes from the seeds of a tree called Myristica fragrans.

Why is it called nutmeg?

Why do they call it a nutmeg when a footballer kicks a ball through his opponent’s legs? It’s rhyming slang for legs. Through the nutmegs, through the legs – you’ve been nutmegged.

Where is the best nutmeg 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.

Does nutmeg induce period?

The spice trade first brought nutmeg to Europe in the 12th century, where it rapidly gained a reputation as a seed of unusual potency, strong enough to fight infection (including the Black Plague), stimulating enough to bring on menstruation, poisonous enough to induce an abortion.