I am a big fan of eggnog . I ’d have it all class long if it would n’t ruin how limited it is to have it around the holidays . I make mine withraw Milk River , and while that throw it fairly amazing , it ’s the Myristica fragrans on top that really lay this luscious drink apart .
There is so much more to the account of Myristica fragrans than you may sleep with . It is such a substantial spicery that it is used sparingly , and therefore , I imagine it can be easily overlooked .
The History
Nutmeg ( Myristica fragrans ) is one of those plant that shift the course of human history . Our desire for it ’s flavor and it ’s power to quicken our senses and our desires made us navigate the world . Nutmeg and its babe spices build deal path , incited fierceness , and bring up and tumble empire . It in all likelihood entered Europe in 1 AD , where its primary use was as a practice of medicine . It would go on to accede the cuisine of traditional company on almost every continent .
Nutmeg appears in recipes for baking , drinks , meat dish antenna , prickly-seeded spinach and mushrooms , cheese dishes , and sauce like béchamel . The fruit of nutmeg tree is pry in the post it grows and is often candied , pickled , and made into jelly and sirup .
The Botany
Nutmeg is a enceinte evergreen tree diagram find in Indonesia . It acquire to be between 30 and 70 feet magniloquent with long , glistening leaf . Even with the other European fascination with transplanting alien mintage around the planet , it still primarily grows in small Indonesian islands , such as the Banda Islands . The tree prefers the gamey humidity and sandy land of the tropic .
At around 9 long time of age , the tree diagram begins to produce sensationalistic fruits that reveal a exclusive seed when break open . This seed is enclose by a straw and a crimson aril , which wait like a red wax light has been melted and extend . The red aril is part of what makes nutmeg extra — it is what we know as mace . In fact , Myristica fragrans is the only plant life that produce two spices . The aril is removed and the seeded player dried . When the husk is off we are leave with the nutmeg seed .
The Medicine
Nutmeg contains 15 chemicals with antibacterial action , according to botanist James Duke . He suggests it might be beneficial in the quest to prevent physical structure olfactory perception , which is good to know if you make your owndeodorant ! Around the world , the spiciness is most commonly employed for digestive issues . Nutmeg has been number as a Chinese medicinal since 600 advertizing , and it is a featured remedy in Ayurveda as a topical anti - inflammatory , for insomnia and incontinence , and as a warming digestive tonic .
outwardly , both the spiciness and its essential oil colour have been used for toothache , eczema and arthritis pain . Among its independent constituents are safrole and myristicin , which is a hallucinogenic . In fact , there is a bit of traditional knowledge around nutmeg and the danger of its ingestion . The truth is that too much of it can lead to severe concern , nausea , dizziness and delirium . The first recorded font of poisoning was in 1576 , when reportedly a pregnant woman eat 10 to 12 of the fruits and became unbelievably drunk .
It ’s not likely that anyone is going to eat enough nutmeg to be deadly , but one can overdo it . Pets are more likely to be in danger , as they are entice by the sweet spicery of nutmeg and can know more severe event . It is best to keep this spice out of the reach of pets and belittled children .
Food internet chef , Alton Brown , is known to keep a nutmeg ejaculate in his pouch at all times . I conceive this is for salutary reason . There are culinary and wellness rationality to use this spice on more than just our Christmas eggnog . Although we are n’t likely here in the Northern Hemisphere to get a invigorated nutmeg fruit off the tree , the next best matter is to grate the semen ourselves . If you want the good of what Myristica fragrans has to provide , plunk up a nutmeg grater and a small bag of seeds at the after - Christmas sale and get ready to make merry for the New Year !
