Nutmeg fruits are fleshy drupes, broadly pyrifoam drooping with a circumferential longitudinal ridge. Nutmeg tree yield two spices, netmeg which is the kernal of the seeds and MACE which is the net like crimson colored leathery out growth (aril) covering the shell of the seed. Nutmeg and mace are two separate spices derived from one tree is the nutmeg tree.
Just like with Ceylon tea and other varieties of spices, nutmeg grown in Sri Lanka has developed an intricate chemical composition and a flavor complex based on the unique terroir of the country.
Sri Lanka serves around 5% of the global demand for nutmeg and 7% of the global demand of mace. Nutmeg is exported as Nutmeg With Shell and Nutmeg Without Shell
USES
Nutmeg, Mace powder and essential oil have many uses in culinery, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and
perfumery industries.
Nutmeg and mace powder are primarily used for culinary purposes to flavour curries, confectioneries and bakery products as well as beverages including eggnog, tea and coffee. Mace powder has a distinct spicy-sweet taste and is used to add flavour to food, domestically and commercially. It is a widely used ingredient in desserts and baked products like desserts, confectionaries, baked food.
Nutmeg essential oil, obtained by the steam distillation of ground nutmeg, is an ingredient widely used as a natural food flavouring in baked goods, syrups, beverages, and sweets. In fact, nutmeg oil is an ingredient used in producing cola drinks. It is also used in the manufacturing of toothpaste, cough syrup, and is also an essential ingredient in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine and aromatherapy.
Nutmeg butter is produced by compressing the whole nut or carbon dioxide extraction and is a semisolid of yellow colour with many uses in the personal care and cosmetic industry. Traditionally used to treat skin irritations, joint pain and toothache; nutmeg butter is now being used to manufacture soap, creams, lotions, lip balms, body butter, shampoo, hair pomades, rinse-out hair conditioners,
and bath bombs.
The essential oils and nutrients present in mace powder are responsible for its medicinal value. It is also known to be an antifungal, anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, digestive and carminative agent. It is a great source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and magnesium. It also is rich in B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A and many flavonoid antioxidants like beta carotene and cryptoxanthin.
