Extraordinary nutmeg. Nutmeg Nutmeg tree

Nutmeg is a gray-brown fruit of a tropical evergreen tree. It is used in ground form to flavor desserts, drinks, first and second courses.

Botanical characteristics

Answering the question of what nutmeg looks like, it is worth noting that it is an ovoid kernel, reaching sizes of 2-3 cm in length and 1.5-2 cm in width. It has a gray-brown color, permeated with a network of winding veins, which are especially noticeable on the cut.

Historical reference

Having answered the question of what nutmeg is, it would not be amiss to note that the name has Latin roots - “nux muscata” is translated as musk nut. There is a legend according to which, when the fruits ripen, the plant emits a strong aroma that makes birds of paradise faint. However, the point here is not the smell, but the psychoactive properties of the nuts.

The plant is native to the Moluccas Islands, which are part of Indonesia. Perhaps that is why the archipelago is called the Spice Islands. Indonesians in ancient times used nutmeg as a medicine and an aphrodisiac. Around the 7th century, thanks to the Arabs, the spice appeared in the markets of southern Europe.

At the end of the 15th century, the Portuguese learned about the good growth and fruiting of nutmeg on the island of Banda, which resulted in a centuries-long war between empires. Everyone wanted to own a territory with a huge supply of an expensive resource. First, the Portuguese lost their possessions to the Dutch, and they to the British.

Gradually, smugglers spread nutmeg throughout Indonesia, and with it into India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Caribbean and Popua New Guinea. Today the tree grows in almost all areas with a tropical climate, including Africa and South America.

Varieties

There are many types of nutmeg, but only one of them is valuable. There are two varieties of fragrant nutmeg:

West Indian;
East Indian.

The first variety is characterized by a refined taste. The nuts are pale yellow in color. The second variety is distinguished by a high content of essential oils and a more pronounced taste. The fruits are bright orange. Most of the East Indian nuts are produced in Indonesia. The main supplier of West Indians is Grenada.

Myristica argentea (Macassar nutmeg) and Myristica malabarica (Bombay nutmeg) are native to New Guinea and Southern India. They belong to the genus Myristica, but are considered as counterfeits of nutmeg and nutmeg. The Indian one quickly gives off its aroma, while the New Guinean one has a bitter-burning taste. They are easy to distinguish from sweet nutmeg; they have a completely different shape. In the original it is always ovoid, but in the fakes it is elongated, which is why they look very much like acorns.

Processing and parts used

Nutmeg, which grows in the hot tropics, produces up to three harvests per year. Collection and processing is a complex process:

The pericarp is removed.
The receiver is removed. It is dried and turned into powder.
Whole nutmegs are dried in special machines or in the sun for several days or even weeks.
Remove the outer shell.
Cleaned musk kernels are placed in a mixture of sea water and coral lime. This composition gets rid of insects and prevents germination. After mixing, the nuts are removed and dried again.

The resulting product is crushed. Subsequently, the ground nut is used as a spice. Vegetable and essential oils are also produced from nutmeg.

Taste and smell

Nutmeg has a spicy, woody aroma that is difficult to confuse with anything else. The smell reveals itself gradually - at first it is barely perceptible, then it becomes more pronounced and reveals different notes. The aroma of ground nuts disappears faster, so it is recommended to grind the kernels right before use.

The taste is peppery, spicy-hot and slightly sweet. Nutmeg has the same characteristics as nutmeg, just a little weaker.

Reference. The strong-smelling nutmeg can be used to repel harmful insects such as cereal beetles and moths. To do this, you just need to place the kernels in places where food and clothing are stored.

Composition of nutmeg

It’s not for nothing that the product is called a universal seasoning, because it perfectly complements any dish. The taste and smell of nutmeg goes well with meat and desserts. The spice is rich in beneficial properties due to its composition:

large amounts of iron, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium;
the presence of vitamins B and A;
content folic acid and essential oils.

The presence of all these substances in the composition allows the use of nutmeg kernels in various preventive and medicinal purposes.

Benefits for the body

The beneficial properties of nutmeg can be represented by the following list:

Has an astringent effect.
Restores and strengthens the body's defenses.
Improves memory, enhances brain function.
Increases appetite and eliminates bad breath.
Reduces the risk of developing cancer.
Normalizes the menstrual cycle.
Increases sexual desire.
Activates blood circulation.

Despite its high calorie content, nutmeg is a useful remedy for weight loss. It accelerates metabolic processes in the body. In addition, the seed contains polyunsaturated fatty acid, promoting the production of insulin. Thanks to this, the feeling of hunger is quickly satisfied and the craving for junk food disappears.

Muscat is used in the treatment of many diseases. Recipes with it help:

calm the nervous system;
lower blood pressure;
relieve pain syndrome;
prevent bleeding;
stop diarrhea;
increase muscle tone;
make breathing easier;
stop the division of cancer cells;
improve the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.

How to choose and buy

Sometimes people wonder where nutmegs are sold. The product is found in almost all supermarkets. The kernels are sold whole or crushed. Ground nuts are more convenient to use, although they tend to quickly lose taste and aroma. For this reason, the product is often sold in very small quantities.

Quality nutmeg is 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, light brown and firm to the touch. There should be no stains or cracks on it. Folds and wrinkles are shallow. The rounder the nut, the more intense its aroma.

If nuts are rarely used for food, then it is better to buy whole kernels and grate them immediately before use. This way you will always have fresh and aromatic spices at hand.

Nutmeg powder is often adulterated and mixed with inferior varieties. Therefore, when purchasing, it is important to pay attention to the packaging, manufacturer, production date and expiration date.

Macis is found on sale much less frequently. Although the difference in price compared to nutmeg is only 30%. Most often, such raw materials are sold in crushed form.

Contraindications

Despite all the benefits of nutmeg, it cannot be called harmless. By itself, it cannot cause harm to health. Side effects are possible only in case of individual intolerance, pregnancy and uncontrolled use. Recommended dosage is 1 gram per serving (one teaspoon contains 5 grams). Exceeding this norm entails the development of serious consequences.

A large amount of nutmeg provokes nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, as well as symptoms reminiscent of a hangover - lethargy, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, redness of the eyes. It seems to a person that time is slowing down, sometimes there is talkativeness and uncontrollable laughter, or, conversely, lethargy. In particularly severe cases, fainting and high blood pressure are possible.

Therefore, elderly people, children, pregnant and lactating women, as well as those who are easily excitable and those who suffer from a disorder nervous system, nutmeg is contraindicated.

Important! Consuming 50 grams or more of musk powder can be fatal.

Frequent consumption of nutmeg in large quantities can cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. It should not be eaten if you have gastritis or ulcers.

Nutmeg essential oil should also be used carefully - follow the dosage and dilute with other oils. In its pure form it can cause a burn. It is not recommended to use it in aroma lamps for a long time (maximum 4 hours a day).

How to use in cooking

In ancient times, the spice was used as a universal medicine, but already in the 6th century, nutmeg took root in European cuisine as a flavoring for dishes and drinks. Even then, people knew that spice makes food not only tastier, but also healthier.

The spice increased the shelf life of products, as it interfered with the vital activity of microorganisms (but they didn’t know about it at the time). Today, nutmeg is added to sauces, desserts, fish dishes, sausages and alcoholic drinks. A pinch of spice gives homemade preparations (jam and jam) an original taste.

Nutmeg is often added to mushrooms and vegetable dishes. Italian bolognese pasta, béchamel sauce and candied violets are also made in recipes containing grated nuts.

The aromatic spice combines harmoniously with other oriental spices and herbs, namely ginger, cardamom, turmeric and allspice. In all recipes, nutmeg is present in very small quantities, but this is quite enough to change the taste of dishes and drinks beyond recognition.

After grinding the kernels, a pinch can be added to tea. This is often done in India. This spice is also added to coffee, mulled wine, chocolate drinks, whipped cream and ice cream.

Nutmeg has a lot to do with it interesting facts. Here are some of them:

The fruits were burned during coronations to disinfect and aromatize the air. A essential oil nutmeg was used for personal hygiene by representatives of the royal dynasties.
In China and the Indonesian Peninsula, the first to grow nutmeg were the British, who established their plantations there.
In the 18th century, the French stole nutmeg seeds and secretly planted them in Madagascar. The plant took root well there too.
Until the 20th century, Grenada was the leader in nutmeg exports, but after a strong hurricane in 2004, many plantations were destroyed, so they had to be restored.
Connecticut (one of 6 US states) is informally known as the “Nutmeg State”. The region received this “nickname” due to the activities of fraudulent traders who passed off ground wood as an aromatic spice.
In the middle of the last century, nutmeg was popular among supporters of such subcultures as hippies and beatniks. They were interested in the psychotropic properties of the product. Today, nutmeg is not considered a drug and is very rarely used for this purpose. The main reason is the difficulty of the “high.” When consuming, you need to follow a bunch of rules in order to enjoy it and avoid possible harm.
There have been several reported cases of death due to nutmeg overdose.
Nutmeg “shows off” on national flag Grenada. In this way, the island shows respect for the product, the cultivation of which is the basis of the country's economy.

Summing up

Nutmeg is the kernel of a fruit similar in appearance to an apricot. Contains a large amount of vitamins, minerals and essential oils. Serves as a unique spice, natural aphrodisiac and medicinal product. The hazel tree, called nutmeg, has about a hundred species, but only one has commercial value - Myristica fragrant. The homeland is the Moluccas Islands, or rather the Banda archipelago that is part of them. Today, nutmeg grows on the islands of Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Grenada, New Guinea, the Malay Archipelago, and also in India.

Botanical name: Fragrant nutmeg or Nutmeg, or Myristica (Myristica fragrans). Belongs to the Muscatnik genus, Muscatniaceae family.

Homeland of fragrant nutmeg: Moluccas Islands.

Lighting: open sunny areas or partial shade.

The soil: sandy loam, loamy.

Watering: moderate.

Maximum tree height: 20 m.

Average life expectancy: 100 years.

Landing: seeds.

The fragrant nutmeg is an evergreen tropical tree, reaching up to 20 m in height. The crown is dense, pyramidal. The bark is gray on the outside and red on the inside. The leaves are entire, alternate, dense, leathery, dark green above, glaucous below, without stipules, up to 15 cm in length. Nutmeg flowers are yellowish-white, fragrant, up to 5 cm in length, collected in racemes. From the female flowers, ovoid-spherical fruits develop with a yellow-orange dense shell, about 4 cm in diameter. Inside the fruit there is a large seed with a fleshy pericarp. The shell is covered with bright red petals. After ripening, the fruit bursts, and after some time the seed ripens. The pulp of the fruit is woody and very sour.

This plant is native to the Moluccas, but today myristica is found wild in all countries with a tropical climate. Cultivated in South America, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Brazil, Madagascar, the West Indies, India, and Sri Lanka.

The nutmeg tree prefers hot, humid climates. Often settles at higher elevations. It develops well and bears fruit on silty, sandy and loamy soils. It begins to bear fruit at 6-8 years of age. Blooms and bears fruit all year round. Brings good harvests up to 60 years of age. The harvest is harvested 3 times a year. One mature tree produces about 2000 fruits.

The crop is propagated by seeds, which are planted immediately after harvesting. Shoots appear 2-3 months after sowing.

After harvesting the fruits, the pericarp is removed, and the seed is squeezed out of the apex. Then the seedlings are given a flat shape and dried. After drying, the appendages turn into thin, horn-like plates of a light yellow hue, called “nutmeg” or “machis”.

The peeled seeds are dried in the sun for 2-3 days, then placed on wire racks and dried in a well-ventilated area for 1-2 months. The peel of the dried seeds is broken and the kernels are removed, which are later called “nutmegs”. To increase shelf life and improve taste, nuts are immersed for several minutes in a solution of sea water and coral lime, removed and dried again. After this, the kernels are packaged in foil bags, which allows them to preserve their properties longer.

What does nutmeg and its flowers look like (with photo)

What quality, ready-to-eat nutmeg looks like is something you should definitely know when purchasing this product. Edible nuts are egg-shaped and gray-brown in color. Their surface is dotted with small wrinkles.

Nutmeg and nutmeg are used as seasonings in cooking, as well as for flavoring refreshments and alcoholic drinks. This spice has a light, subtle aroma that gradually becomes sharper and richer. This spice is added in small doses, it improves the taste of food and benefits the body.

The smell of a nut largely depends on its shape. Thus, large spherical kernels have a more subtle and rich aroma than small or oval ones.

Essential oil is obtained from the seeds of this plant and is used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes.

Myristica seeds contain toxic substances in small quantities, so excessive consumption of nuts causes nausea, rapid heartbeat and hallucinations. For the same reason, nutmeg and nutmeg as a seasoning should be used with caution, observing moderation.

The name nutmeg comes from the Arabic word “mesk”, which means “musky”.

The fruits of this crop have been highly valued since ancient times. At the end of the 12th century. the spice gained great popularity in Europe, where it was considered an exquisite seasoning for the dishes of wealthy, noble people. For example, in England, true gourmets carried graters with them in order to add fresh crushed nutmeg to food or drinks. Up to the 18th century. the price of the spice was so high that only the upper classes could afford it. To keep prices high, colonialists in the Moluccas hired overseers who had to monitor whether an “extra” tree had grown on a local resident’s property. And if such a tree was found, its owner was beaten to death with sticks.

Nutmeg is a well-known spicy spice widely used in cooking and folk medicine due to its many beneficial and medicinal properties. It can relieve pain, stress, improve sleep, calm the stomach and improve cognitive function. It is recommended for cleansing the body, for toothache, and for strengthening the immune system. It prevents leukemia and improves blood circulation. Once upon a time, these nuts with a spicy aroma were worth their weight in gold for their subtle, refined taste and healing properties; they could make the spice seller a very rich man.

What does nutmeg look like and where does it grow?

Nutmeg is not actually a nut, but the fruit of the tropical nutmeg tree. Outwardly, it looks like an apricot or a small peach.

Muscat is a tall evergreen tree belonging to the Muscataceae family of the same name. The homeland of the nutmeg is tropical forests. There are about 400 species of these plants, but only 80 of them produce this aromatic spicy spice. The rest also have similar fruits, but with less aroma and value.

The Moluccas, which were once called the “Spice Islands,” are considered the birthplace of nutmeg. A mature tree can reach a height of 20 meters. When grown from seed, the first harvest can be obtained only after 7-9 years. The nutmeg lives about 70-75 years and in a year you can get about 2000 nuts from one tree.

Nutmeg produces two spices at once - the nut itself and the mace, the outer red membrane that covers it. Both of these spices have a subtle spicy sweet aroma, but in the nut it is more pronounced.

Nutmeg was originally grown on the island of Banda, part of the Maluku Islands. For thousands of years, the island's inhabitants have collected the fruits of the nutmeg tree and used them for cooking and as a healing agent. They also traded nutmeg with the other islands surrounding it. From there he first came to Europe.

When Europeans first became acquainted with this spice, it captivated them not only with its exquisite aroma, but also as a remedy that could stop the spread of the plague. No wonder in those days 1 pound of nuts cost as much as a cow.

In general, the history of nutmeg is shrouded in constant wars and battles. The first to discover the “spice islands” were the Portuguese, who were soon supplanted by the Dutch and held control over the supply and prices of spices for decades.

The excitement around this spice died down when the French, followed by the British, secretly exported the nuts to their conquered tropical islands.

Today, nutmeg is grown commercially in many tropical countries, including the Caribbean and India.

The nutmeg blooms with small pale yellowish flowers shaped like a bell.

The fruit is light yellow in color, enclosed in a fleshy shell, which cracks in half when the nut ripens.

The extracted nut is covered with a red membrane and is shaped like an apricot or plum pit.

Ripe fruits are collected (up to 3 times a year) and dried for 2 months. Modern technologies greatly accelerated this process, reducing it to several days.

After drying, the membrane is removed from the nut, which is used as an independent seasoning. In addition to spicy spices, valuable nutmeg oil is obtained from the nut.

What are the benefits of nutmeg and what does it contain?

In nutmeg, the main value comes from the oils, which account for almost 40 percent. Most of it consists of a substance called elemicin. It is this drug that causes hallucinations when overdosed. Therefore, you cannot eat more than 3-6 pieces of fruit per day. It all depends on the individual characteristics of a particular person.

The remaining components of the essential oil are:

Myristicin;

Terpinen;

and other connections.

In addition, it contains:

Vitamins: C, thiamine, riboflavin and others;

Minerals: iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, potassium, zinc, chromium, cobalt and others;

Catechins;

Saponins;

Unsaturated fatty acids: oleic, linoleic, palmitic, myristic, caprylic, formic and others.

All these compounds give the nut a number of beneficial and healing properties, contribute to the normal functioning of the body, have a beneficial effect on internal organs, skin.

Like all nuts, it contains a lot of calories. In 100 grams it reaches 520-550 kcal. Why such difference? Nutmeg as a seasoning is often mixed from several types, which differ from each other in smell and nutritional value. This only applies to powder form.

Nutmeg beneficial properties

By adding nutmeg to your dishes when cooking, you can improve metabolic processes, reduce hunger, stabilize the digestive tract and solve a number of problems associated with digestion. Nutmeg is often recommended to be added to the diet in weight loss programs. The range of its beneficial properties and effects on the human body is very extensive. Among the main ones it should be noted:

Prevents the development of pathogenic microflora in the oral cavity and helps eliminate unpleasant odor.

Help in relieving headaches and toothaches (essential oil contains a number of compounds with analgesic properties).

Relieves fatigue, tension, improves concentration and attention.

Helps improve blood circulation.

Eliminates flatulence, including after eating foods that increase gas formation.

Normalizes digestion and work gastrointestinal tract.

Helps with diarrhea, vomiting, and the first symptoms of poisoning.

It has diuretic and choleretic properties.

Normalizes metabolic processes.

Helps cleanse the body and remove harmful carcinogenic substances.

Effective as a diuretic and choleretic natural remedy.

Relieves pain in the musculoskeletal system due to diseases and injuries.

Has a beneficial effect on the male reproductive system.

Increases libido and improves erectile function.

Helps restore the menstrual cycle.

Relieves unpleasant symptoms of menopause.

Nutmeg oil is widely used in cosmetics for skin and body care, in the perfume industry.

Nutmeg medicinal properties

Nutmeg has been used as a medicine by local peoples for centuries. It can be used for:

Disorders and malfunctions of the nervous system;

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

With a decrease in potency in men;

Sexual disorders and decreased libido in women;

Skin diseases;

Weakening of the immune system;

Poisoning of the body.

Nutmeg has the following properties:

Stimulating;

Knitting;

Antimicrobial;

Anti-inflammatory;

Antibacterial;

Sedative;

Toning.

Nutmeg helps with:

High temperature;

Colds and viral diseases;

Headache;

Halitose;

Toothache;

Rheumatism;

Heart problems;

Hemorrhoids;

Varicose veins;

Insomnia;

Weakening of potency;

Nervous overstrain.

They chew it to get rid of the unpleasant smell of fumes and cigarettes.

However, it must be remembered that an overdose can lead to a hallucinogenic effect.

Nutmeg for gastrointestinal problems

Its main use for such problems is to eliminate bloating and increased gas formation. These properties are provided to it by camphor, eugenol, safrole present in the essential oil.

Pectin, sabonol and zinc are powerful antiulcer agents. In total, it contains about 20 compounds that have a calming and relaxing effect on the abdominal muscles.

It is often used for:

Bloating (take 1 gram of powder after meals three times a day);

Gastritis;

Digestion of food;

Loss of appetite (sprinkle food with spice before eating);

Anorexia;

Insufficient saliva production.

Nutmeg stimulates the production of gastric juice, which improves digestion and digestion of food. It is taken either before or after meals, depending on the problem. It can be used together with other herbs and spices in the form of tea, adding ginger and cinnamon to relieve discomfort associated with digestion and stomach function.

In addition, the dietary fiber present in it enhances intestinal motility.

Nutmeg for respiratory and colds

It is used as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent. To relieve cough and bronchitis, make warm compresses soaked in nutmeg essential oil. To do this, the napkin is heated and placed on the chest. Such compresses help at the first signs of respiratory diseases.

You can add a pinch of ground nuts to any warm drink.

Nutmeg for insomnia

Many consider him the best remedy in case of sleep disturbance. All you need to do is add a pinch of ground nutmeg to warm milk. Its effect occurs within 2-6 hours. Therefore, you need to take it a few hours before bedtime. Its sedative effect lasts up to 8 hours. This must be taken into account when receiving a late appointment. For example, if you drink milk with nuts at 10 pm, you may feel sleepy the next morning.

Keeping in mind the undesirable effects of the nut, take no more than 1-10 grams. You need to start taking nutmeg with small doses.

Using nutmeg for insomnia can help restore sleep. However, there may be other reasons that just drinking nut milk will not solve.

Nutmeg for hypertension

Due to the presence of potassium, it has antihypertensive properties and can lower blood pressure. Potassium is a vasodilator that relaxes blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure and reducing tension. cardiovascular system. Although it is used very rarely for this purpose, you need to know about these properties.

Nutmeg to improve blood circulation

The main effect is provided by the compounds that make up the essential oil. These compounds can reduce the degradation of nerve endings and improve cognitive function, reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

By influencing blood circulation, it helps relieve pain and other unpleasant symptoms associated with this problem.

These and anti-inflammatory properties ensure the use of the nut for hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Lozenges or ointment made from powder (5 grams of nutmeg powder and any vegetable oil) reduce swelling and pain. Apply the ointment directly to the affected area.

Nutmeg as an aphrodisiac

Nutmeg is an aphrodisac. It is often added in small quantities to other herbal ingredients that have similar properties.

They season dishes with it romantic date. It allows you to relax and calm down, relieve embarrassment and tension.

There is no need to wait for some violent passions. However, if someone has a lot of anxiety, stress, insomnia, nutmeg can be a good help and remove any barriers to sex. It can help make you a more pleasant and cheerful partner.

Make small tablets by taking equal proportions of nutmeg and cinnamon, adding a little ground cloves and water. You can add a little flour for binding. Eat them to calm down and relieve any bitterness or unpleasantness.

Nutmeg may also support male sexual health and is used locally for benign prostatic hyperplasia, premature ejaculation and impotence.

Nutmeg use in folk medicine

Europeans, having become acquainted with nutmeg, found use for it not only in cooking, but also began to use it for treatment. Perhaps they adopted some information from peoples where this spice is not at all exotic. Look at several recipes for treating various diseases.

Nutmeg for varicose veins

The effect of nutmeg in this disease is based on its ability to improve blood circulation, relieve pain and inflammation.

At the first symptoms of the disease, it can be taken daily in powder form on an empty stomach for three weeks.

The infusion is prepared as follows:

Brew 20 grams of nutmeg powder with a glass of boiling water. Infuse and filter, add 100 grams of honey.

Drink the infusion three times a day, 15 grams (1 tablespoon). Keep refrigerated.

A weaker infusion is prepared from half a teaspoon of ground nuts per glass of boiling water. After infusing for 15 minutes, add one tablespoon of honey. Drink half a glass in the morning one hour before breakfast and before bed two hours after the last meal.

Alcohol tincture of nutmeg for varicose veins

To prepare take:

100 grams nutmeg (ground)

500 ml vodka

Place in a dark place for 10 days. Take it 3 times a day, 20 drops diluted in a small amount of water. Duration of treatment – 3 months.

Nutmeg to increase potency

There are several ways to use nutmeg to improve and increase potency.

The first is to take ground powder. To do this, buy ready-made nuts in powder form or grind them yourself. Take 1/3 teaspoon, dividing it into three equal parts. Can be taken with water or added to food. To avoid exceeding the dosage, use the following calculation formula: 1 gram of powder for every 10 kg of body weight. The total amount should still not exceed the daily norm. Maximum – one or two teaspoons.

Nutmeg can be added to a drink, cocktail (except alcoholic), salad or to season meat.

The second way is to make a tincture. Take 150 grams of nutmeg and ginger root. Add 5 grams of anise and pour one liter of vodka or alcohol. Leave for a week. Drink 1 tablespoon of the tincture every day.

This tea recipe is suitable for both men and women. To prepare it, take equal proportions of nutmeg, lavender flowers, ginger root and cloves. Add five rose petals to this mixture and brew 500 ml of boiling water. IN ready-made tea you can add honey or sugar.

Nutmeg to improve memory

Prepare the tincture by taking a tablespoon each of ground nutmeg, caraway seeds and anise. Pour in 1 liter of red wine. Leave for 2 weeks and filter. Drink 50 ml three times a day.

You can make a tincture using cognac instead of wine. Drink 25 ml of this tincture three times a day.

Nutmeg for diseases of the musculoskeletal system

For pain in muscles and joints caused by rheumatism, arthrosis, osteochondrosis, rub in an ointment made from ground nuts and vegetable oil. To prepare it, slightly heat the vegetable mixture and add nut powder. Mix thoroughly to form a paste with a consistency similar to thick sour cream.

After application medicine wrap it up well sore spot and leave until the heat acts. Maybe overnight.

Instead of powder, you can use essential oil, which is rubbed in with light massage movements and wrapped. Be sure to dilute with any vegetable oil.

As a prophylactic remedy to relieve inflammation, you can take a tincture made from 100 grams of nutmeg and 500 grams of vodka. Drink 1 teaspoon of tincture before meals three times a day, after diluting it with water. Duration of treatment – 14 days.

In addition, you can take this mixture. Take 12 parts of celery root, 4 parts of rue leaves, 3 parts of nutmeg and 2 parts of cloves. Grind everything in a blender and mix well. Take 1 teaspoon before meals.

For neuralgia and muscle pain, you can add a few drops of essential oil to an ointment or cream prescribed by a doctor or make it yourself by taking vegetable oil, beeswax, powder or nut oil.

Nutmeg contraindications overdose

Nutmeg in large doses can cause:

Poor concentration;

Headache;

Cardiopalmus;

Stomach upset;

Dry mouth;

Redness of the eyes;

Increased sweating;

Temperature increase;

Body pain and aches;

Hallucinations.

Treatment with nutmeg is prohibited if you have epilepsy or mental illness.

In small doses, it is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, subject to consultation with a doctor. This does not apply to nutmeg used in culinary recipes. As a rule, in cooking it is used literally on the tip of a knife.

It should not be consumed in large quantities with alcohol. In addition, it may interact with some medicines. Therefore, you should definitely consult with your doctor about the compatibility of the treatment being carried out.

Nutmeg is primarily a seasoning that adds a subtle, refined aroma and taste to many dishes. And only then - medicine. Moreover, we must take into account that this is an exotic seasoning that came to us from overseas countries and is not so native to our body.

Nutmeg as a medicine

Why is nutmeg dangerous?

Nutmeg is the core of the drupe of the nutmeg tree. Many people know it as an exquisite spice with a rich, bitter taste, some trust its medicinal properties, and others believe that it can awaken and enhance sexual desire. What does this popular spice hide, beneficial properties or complete contraindications?

Composition and calorie content

The tree on which the nutmeg grows is an evergreen plant, growing up to 18–20 meters in height and living for about 100 years. Its fruits are a source of three types of spices - nutmeg, essential oil and nutmeg.. Nutmeg is the dried seed of the plant. An indicator of its quality is its bright orange color and the presence of a pronounced pattern. It has a richer taste and smell, but since the oil content in it is much lower, its medicinal properties are less pronounced than those of the nut and essential oil.

In large doses, nutmeg can be toxic

The nutmeg itself looks like the contents of the bone shell of the fruit. In addition to the high content of essential oils, it boasts a very diverse vitamin and mineral composition. It contains 7 types of B vitamins alone. In addition, it contains vitamins PP, E, H, and beta-carotene. Of the minerals here you can find almost the entire periodic table - iron, zinc, manganese, aluminum, strontium, selenium, iodine, cobalt, vanadium, strontium, molybdenum, zirconium, tin, nickel, potassium, calcium, sodium, fluorine, magnesium, sulfur.

Nutrition Facts (Table)

The calorie content of nutmeg is 525 kcal per 100 grams of product, but this is not so scary, because, as a rule, it is consumed in very small doses. If speak about nutritional value, then 100 grams of nutmeg contain:

Another valuable substance that is extracted from this nut is essential oil. It is obtained by grinding the kernel and distilling it in a mixture with steam or water. You can often find counterfeits of this product, when some synthetic compounds or poorly purified tea tree oil are passed off as nutmeg oil, so when purchasing, you should carefully consider the information about the origin of the materials and fully analyze the composition and appearance. Nutmeg oil is an absolutely transparent liquid with a slight beige tint. It has a warm, spicy, rich aroma and a slightly intoxicating effect.. It is not used in its pure form and is never used in concentrated form, since in these doses it has pronounced toxicity.

Properties and benefits

Nutmeg is not only a spicy spice, but also a cure for many diseases.

Walnut kernel

Many people know nutmeg as a spicy seasoning, but not everyone knows about its healing properties.

Even the ancient Romans noticed that nutmeg helps to mobilize and strengthen brain activity and increase concentration. This product is recommended for use if you are prone to depression, since the substances included in its composition enhance the production of endorphins - the hormones of joy. It is also included in immunostimulating preparations.
Nutmeg can serve as an excellent pain reliever. Even today, many Eastern practices use it to relieve pain and inflammation in joints and muscles.
It is also used for problems of the gastrointestinal tract. It helps eliminate diarrhea and constipation, cope with flatulence, and increase appetite.
Nutmeg stimulates the kidneys and liver, helping them remove harmful substances from the body. It improves their functioning, prevents the formation of stones, and in some cases even promotes their dissolution.
The antibacterial properties of the nut allow it to be used in dentistry. It copes well with bad breath, relieves toothache and prevents the development of caries.
Nutmeg can also help solve many skin problems. Just a few treatments with it will help get rid of acne and even remove traces of it. It can also cope with more serious skin diseases, for example, with various dermatoses and lichen.

Nutmeg has been known in Europe since the 6th century AD. e. TO XII century The popularity of this spice has grown so much that almost all European countries began to import it. However, it was originally used not as a spice, but as an aromatic mixture.

Essential oil

In its pure, concentrated form, nutmeg essential oil is rarely used.

The healing properties of essential oil are more pronounced than those of the nut.

Nutmeg oil has a stimulating effect on the circulatory system and heart muscles.
It facilitates the functioning of the bronchi during colds and viral diseases, softening the walls and increasing their elasticity.
Like nuts, nutmeg oil relieves pain and inflammation in osteochondrosis, arthritis and neuralgia.
It has hemostatic properties and is often used for various bleedings, including nasal and uterine bleeding.
It has a beneficial effect on the female reproductive system, to some extent taking on the functions of the female hormone estrogen. It can be used to reduce menstrual pain and reduce the unpleasant consequences associated with menopausal disorders.

How to choose and use spices

The most common and simplest option for purchasing this spice is to buy it already ground. On retail shelves you can find this spice in glass, plastic or cardboard packaging. This product is convenient to use for home cooking, but the downside is that the packaging is not airtight, and under the influence of air humidity and kitchen odors, ground nutmeg quickly loses its taste and aroma. In addition, the beneficial properties of the ground nut do not last long, so using such powders for medicinal purposes is practically useless.

Carefully study the composition of the product before purchasing

If you need a higher quality product, then it is better to buy whole nutmeg. However, before use, you will have to grind it yourself. To do this, it is not necessary to purchase a mill or a special nutmeg grater - you can use a regular one or grind the nut in a coffee grinder, but before that you need to divide it into smaller pieces. It is worth considering that crushed nuts quickly lose their medicinal properties and aroma, so it is better to grate as much spice as you need in the near future.

If we talk about the use of nutmeg in cooking, then it all depends on what you want to get as a result. It should be added to hot dishes only at the last stages of cooking, otherwise they may acquire a bitter taste. For baking, it is best to add it to the dough when kneading, but for drinks there are no specific preparation rules - this spice sets off the taste of both cold and hot equally well, so everything here will depend on your taste.

Hot stuff: nutmeg as an aphrodisiac

Even in ancient times, people noticed that nutmeg can enhance sexual arousal. The fair sex is especially susceptible to its influence, but men do not remain indifferent to it. To make the time spent together memorable for a long time, dishes intended for a romantic dinner can be seasoned with a small amount of this spice. But before that, you should find out whether your partner is allergic to it. You can add the spice either in ground form or in small pieces. Increased sensitivity will persist for 3-5 hours, then the excitement will begin to disappear.

The aromatic properties of nutmeg will also help enhance the effect. Candles with its aroma or a few drops of oil added to an aroma lamp will heighten the senses and give clarity and expressiveness to sensations.

For a slim figure and weight loss

Nutmeg has long been considered an effective remedy for weight loss. It not only promotes the rapid absorption of foods, but is also an excellent stimulant that has a general strengthening effect on the body.

Don’t be lazy: you won’t achieve great results when losing weight with nutmeg alone

In order to lose weight with the help of nutmeg, you need to follow simple rules:

add it to side dishes and salads you prepare;
You should not use the nut in dishes that contain sugar or honey - in combination with them, the number of proteins and carbohydrates will be critical;
If you decide to lose weight with the help of whole nuts, then you can eat them in small pieces throughout the day, add them to ready-made dishes or drink unsweetened tea, but you should not eat more than 2 nuts per day, this will put too much stress on the liver.

Nutmeg can be used not only by those who are on a diet. The ability to stimulate digestion, speeding it up and helping to digest even such heavy foods as fatty pork or lamb, will come in handy at every formal dinner.

Nutmeg in folk medicine

The beneficial properties of nutmeg are widely used in folk medicine. For treatment, it is better to use whole nuts, grating them in the amount needed to prepare the medicine.

Recipes for varicose veins: drink and vodka tincture

Nutmeg perfectly strengthens the walls of blood vessels during varicose veins veins There are several recipes for this.

To enhance male potency and health

Since nutmeg has a beneficial effect on the circulatory and nervous systems, its properties are ideal for increasing potency and normalizing sexual intercourse. It allows you to stabilize the psychological state, enhance ejaculation, and extend the time of intimacy. You can use nutmeg in the following cases:

if a man notices a sudden change in mood associated with excitement before sexual intercourse;
if he is too fixated on past failures in his sex life;
with physical and emotional stress, constant stress, conflicts;
with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Grated nuts are added to salads, side dishes or drinks at the rate of one gram of spice per 10 kilograms of weight. If you want to get the maximum effect, you need to consume 1-2 teaspoons of grated spice (but no more) 3-4 hours before sexual contact. This can be done by adding grated spice to drinks. Please note: they must not contain alcohol. For this purpose, for example, a banana milkshake is perfect, for which 400 ml of milk is mixed using a blender with 100 g of ice cream, a tablespoon of sugar and the chopped pulp of two bananas.

It is unlikely that alcohol will help you relax at such moments, but doing a disservice would be quite

A drink made from equal parts of nutmeg, lavender, cloves and ginger will help ignite your senses and find the right mood. Five parts of rose petals are added to them and brewed in a ceramic or clay teapot. You can drink this drink either pure or diluted with water with the addition of honey or sugar.

For arthrosis, osteochondrosis, neuritis and rheumatism

Nutmeg copes well with pain arising from these diseases, in addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in the form of applications, rubbing and compresses.

All parents are well aware of the problem of newborns, colic. Nutmeg will help solve it. Since it has a beneficial effect on digestion, it is enough to add it to the dishes that mommy eats. It will not only improve the condition of her intestines, but through breast milk it will also help the baby. By the way, nutmeg can also increase the amount breast milk in a woman. For this purpose, you can prepare a drink in which a pre-crushed handful of dill seeds and a pinch of nutmeg are added to 200 grams of kefir. You can drink this cocktail in unlimited quantities.

Adding nutmeg to milk makes a wonderful soothing drink.

Treatment for the thyroid gland

An infusion consisting of the following components will help get rid of nodular goiter:

5 g valerian root;
5 g birch buds;
a glass of unpressed walnut kernels;
3 nutmeg kernels.

All ingredients are placed in an opaque glass bottle, filled with 0.5 liters of vodka and left to infuse for three weeks. When the tincture is ready, filter it and take a tablespoon at night to treat the thyroid gland, without drinking water.

In preparing moonshine

The properties of nutmeg are also used in moonshine. Its addition allows you to refine strong drinks, improving, smoothing and masking their odor. If you use this spice when infusing, the product will receive a piquant, spicy-burning taste. To do this, add 4–6 grams of chopped nuts per 1 liter and leave for 2–3 weeks.

Action when smelling alcohol

You can get rid of the unpleasant odor after drinking alcohol by chewing a small piece of nutmeg.

You should not count on the magical power of nutmeg if you decide to drive a car while drunk: often such pungent odors arouse unnecessary suspicion among road service employees

With kefir and milk as a general tonic

If you add a small pinch of spice to a glass of kefir or milk, it will have a calming effect on both the intestines and the nervous system. For example, warm milk with honey and nutmeg has long been used to normalize sleep. To do this, add grated nutmeg on the tip of a knife and a teaspoon of honey to a glass of warm milk. A pinch of spice added to 200 g of kefir or yogurt will help gently solve problems with stool retention.

Effect in cosmetology

Before grinding nuts for cosmetic purposes, be sure that your blender is designed to grind such hard products! Otherwise, use a grater: everything is safer

Face masks and scrubs

Nutmeg perfectly relieves inflammation on the skin, evens out its color, smoothes out unevenness, and effectively fights acne and its marks.

A scrub, for the preparation of which we take equal parts of ground nutmeg and red lentils, diluted with a decoction of chamomile or calendula to obtain a thick paste, will help cleanse skin pores, remove dead particles and relieve inflammation. It is applied to damp skin, lightly massaged and washed off with warm water.
A whitening mask can be prepared by taking equal amounts of honey and grated nuts. The resulting mixture is applied to the face, having previously cleansed it, and left for 15 minutes, after which it is washed off with warm water. You can make this mask every day.
If you make a paste of grated nuts and milk and apply it to areas of inflammation at night, you can get rid of small pimples in a few sessions. To do this, equal amounts of grated spice and warm milk are mixed and applied to the inflamed areas. To avoid staining the bed linen, it is better to place a towel on the pillowcase.

A mask with honey and nutmeg will easily cope with inflammation

How to use for hair

In order to make a mask that gives your hair shine and enhances its growth, you need to take a tablespoon of grated nutmeg and ground oatmeal, add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to them and dilute to the consistency of thick sour cream mineral water, which is slightly warmed up. The resulting mass is applied to the hair, covered with plastic film and wrapped for 30–40 minutes. After the time is up, wash off the mask with any shampoo.

Perhaps, in terms of its versatility, nutmeg is inferior (and even this is a controversial issue) only to black pepper - the scope of its application is so wide. And therefore, it is necessary for a person who uses spices in his kitchen to know about its properties. To get nutmeg, you will have to practically repeat the feat of the winner Koshchei the Immortal - find a tall (up to 20 m in height) evergreen tree of the fragrant nutmeg (Myristica fragraus), whose homeland is the Moluccas Islands, pick a ripe fruit that breaks in half, and pull it out from its middle nut - a seed, covered with a leathery bag - pericarp, carefully, without destroying the bag, remove the seed, dry it for a month, heating the drying sieves from below with the heat of smoldering coal, and separately, just in the sun, in one day, dry the deposited pericarps, then Break the nut shell and only then get the ready-to-use seed - the desired spice.
Dried pericarps will also be used; this is another spice that bears several synonymous names: nutmeg, mace, mace.

Of course, the modern spice lover doesn't necessarily have to climb trees. It is enough for him to buy nutmeg, the main suppliers of which today are India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Brazil, and Trinidad. And when buying, it is worth remembering that in ground form, and even if not properly sealed, this spice quickly loses its properties. Therefore, it is better to buy nutmeg whole, grinding it with a grater or mortar immediately before use. In addition, the buyer should be aware that there are several types of nutmeg on the market. The best of them are ovoid,

rather than an elongated, airship-like shape.

Quite characteristic veins are visible in nutmeg on the cut,

and by their quantity one can even judge the quality of the spice - the more veins, the better quality nutmeg.

The aroma of nutmeg is very strong, at the same time sweet and bitter, fresh and hot, notable for the fact that, very modestly introduced, it actively expands the flavor space of the dish. It is believed that nutmeg is best suited to chocolate, confectionery, cheeses, eggs, sausages, drinks, including alcoholic ones, but, in fact, its applicability is much wider. In essence, nutmeg is nothing more than a universal flavoring agent - a taste catalyst that can, even with an almost homeopathic dose, significantly improve and enhance the taste quality of dishes. The aroma of nutmeg is different: muted, more delicate, subtle and coniferous. Its tenderness perfectly complements dairy products: milk soups, cottage cheese casseroles, cheesecakes. It is also suitable for other dishes with an exquisite taste: thin sauces, seafood dishes, delicate egg dishes.

Quite often, nutmeg and nutmeg appear in tandem, mutually complementing each other, and their participation is typical for many multi-component national spice mixtures of universal use: Indian garam masala, Moroccan ras el hanout, Tunisian galat dagga, various, quite international curries and others. In Russian cuisine, nutmeg also came to taste, since Portuguese sailors first made this spice available to European connoisseurs, and only then, with French influence, nutmeg came to Russian cooking, where it settled so familiarly, as if it had been known here since time immemorial. However, not only is nutmeg a strong spice, this thing is also quite dangerous. After all, the historical expression of Paracelsus perfectly suits the fragrant seed: “Everything is poison and everything is medicine. It’s just a matter of dose.” The usual dose of nutmeg is approximately 1:5000. At the same time, for one serving ready-made dish only a few tenths of a gram of this spice will be needed. And when taken in a single dose of two or more whole nuts (5-10 grams), it manifests itself as a powerful hallucinogen. True, such an amount of really strong spice is unlikely to be eaten by accident, without a special task set in this way. After all, ordinary recipes do not require the use of more than half a teaspoon of nutmeg (and in many cases even less), if only because taken in a significant proportion, nutmeg will easily overwhelm any other flavors present in the dish.

To judge for yourself the excellent work of nutmeg (or its mixture with nutmeg) as a flavoring agent, try it with the simplest things you know best. Add a little (a quarter of a teaspoon) of grated nuts to the omelette right as you beat the eggs and see how rich and sparkling the final flavor is. Sprinkle it, just a little bit, over the sliced tequila orange. Add nutmeg when making cocoa or even compote. Don’t forget about it when working with delicate minced meat, such as chicken or fish. Just one pinch of ground nuts and the taste of the resulting cutlets will meet your wildest expectations. A little nutmeg (or better yet, a nutmeg-colored milk broth) won't hurt even regular mashed potatoes. Have you thought of cooking fish soup? So, too, be bolder, here it is, on the tip of a knife, along with the saffron. Very small doses of nutmeg are calming and can serve to relieve tension or anxiety, while slightly larger doses, on the contrary, excite and work as an aphrodisiac - a substance that increases the attraction of lovers to each other.

Nutmeg is an amazing product. Once upon a time they exchanged it for large and small livestock and committed state crimes for its sake. And thanks to this universal spice, you can see vivid hallucinations.

My acquaintance with nutmeg occurred in distant childhood. I remember my dad, a distinguished culinary enthusiast, was preparing some kind of meat dish for the holiday and generously sprinkled it with black powder. I walked into the kitchen and was horrified, thinking it was .

Naturally, like all children, I didn’t particularly like spicy dishes, and therefore asked my dad not to sprinkle so much pepper. He laughed and said it was nutmeg and that it didn't burn in the mouth. After that, dad gave me a pinch of this mysterious powder to try.

I can’t say that I was delighted with the taste of the spice, which was strange to me at the time, but the fact that it didn’t pinch my tongue was a huge plus in its favor. Later, when I switched to vegetarianism, I began to actively study the tastes and properties of a variety of spices. Among them was nutmeg, which had been safely forgotten for the time being. I got hold of a whole kernel of it and gladly added it to many of my dishes.

I’ll tell you about them a little lower, in the corresponding section of the article, but now let’s find out what kind of animal this is, where it came from and what it tastes like.

Nutmeg is slightly alkalizing to your body, as it has a slightly acidic pH of 6.0.

This plant has several names, the most famous of which is the one we use - “nutmeg”. However, if you hear “nutmeg” or “nutmeg tree,” know that this is also about the hero of my article today.

So, this plant, which in Latin sounds like Myrīstica fragrans, is a member of the Muscatnikov family. It must be said that nutmeg is the most popular representative of this clan, and few people have heard of the rest except specialists. Well, you must admit, the names “knema” or “virola” tell us little.

Nutmeg is an evergreen tree whose height can vary from 9 to 12 meters. Its crown is spreading, consisting of large leathery elliptical leaves with a sharp tip. Their length can reach 13 centimeters. It is interesting that on one side the leaves of the nutmeg tree are glossy, and on the other (bottom) they are matte.

The plant we are interested in blooms with small pale yellow flowers that exude a pleasant aroma. At the same time, the “girl” flowers cluster in small groups of 2-3 individuals in the leaf axils, and the “boys” gather 20 pieces in the brush.

The fruits of the nutmeg tree are not nuts at all, as we used to think, but drupes. They have a succulent, leathery pericarp and a hard intracarp.

I love to feel the subtle woody nutmeg aroma in my vegetable stews, porridges, pilafs, and soups.

Try adding a twist to your vegetable juices and smoothies by adding a pinch of nutmeg.

Yes, I think the pumpkin and nutmeg duo is a classic! Try making a pie, porridge, or soup using them. Experiment with different proportions and dishes. I'm sure you'll like it. My favorite food in winter is hot thick pumpkin cream soup with the addition of this spice and homemade sour cream.

It is very important to preserve all the beneficial properties of the spice, and therefore I advise you to add it not during the preparation of the dish, but after you have laid it out on plates and allowed it to cool slightly. So the aroma will be stronger, the taste will be brighter, and there will be more benefits!

Keep in mind that the seemingly harmless nutmeg is not all that safe in large quantities. I'll tell you more about this below. Now just remember that you can’t put more than 1 gram of this product per serving (that’s about 3 pinches).

Nutmeg oil is widely used in medicine and cosmetology.

From the fruits of this plant, valuable essential oil is obtained, which is widely used in various areas of our lives - in medicine, in the cosmetic and perfume industries. Nutmeg oil is also used for the production of tobacco products, but this is someone else’s life, not ours, right?

This oil is extracted mainly from the core of the fruit - the same one that we consider a spice. On sale you can also find oily substances squeezed from nutmeg (the bright red shell covering the seed shell). Keep in mind that both oils have approximately the same properties, but the former has a more intense smell. This is important if you are purchasing it for aromatherapy.

Natural nutmeg oil is almost transparent, with a slight beige tint. If you inhale its aroma, you will soon feel warm and cozy. It will calm you down, relieve you of anxious thoughts, and put you into a meditative state. It is also believed that this natural remedy is a strong aphrodisiac, and therefore its smell is appropriate during a romantic dinner.

In addition, the natural medicine that I am talking about improves digestion and blood circulation, has a positive effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, helps eliminate muscle pain, and relieves osteochondrosis and inflammation. It significantly weakens various menopausal symptoms.

This oil is also useful for sagging aging skin. Unfortunately, it is not suitable for sensitive people - it can irritate them, but it has a very good effect on hair, prevents hair loss and stimulates growth.

Countries in which this plant is produced in industrial scale, they use not only the fruit kernels on the farm, but also the husks that cover them. It is ground into powder and added to the preparation of medicines.

Strongly smelling nutmeg balls can repel harmful insects that lay claim to your property - expel beetles from cereals, and also survive moths from wool and fur items.

No, you don’t need to do shamanism and dance, waving nuts and shouting magic spells in a scary voice. Although such an action will certainly scare off any living creatures within a radius of several meters! 🙂

There is a simpler and more harmless way - simply place the kernels of nutmeg fruits in places where food and clothing items are stored that are at risk. The moth will not fly up to a cannon shot, and the beetles will bypass the zone of influence of the spice on the tenth route. Have you already done this? Try it!

How to grow nutmeg at home?

This plant is dioecious, which means it is necessary to acquire both male and female plants. In addition, for a nutmeg that loves a tropical climate, it is important to create appropriate conditions on the windowsill. If you're ready to get involved, then make sure your pet gets plenty of light, warmth, and humidity.

Only seeds in a shell are suitable for planting; they are lowered into a large container with loose soil that allows air and water to pass through well. Have you been imprisoned? Take care and wait... 6 years! That's how much time has to pass before tropical plant on your window will begin to bear fruit. And then, provided that you did everything correctly. 😉

There are nutmegs on the trees - either , or .

This spice can be found on sale throughout the year, so you don't have to keep track of the nutmeg seasons. Moreover, we – residents of non-tropics – are unlikely to find super-fresh specimens on sale.

But the quality is quite good. The main thing is to know what good nutmeg kernels they are.

How to choose the right nutmeg?

Of course, the less processing the product has undergone, the better, so the most profitable purchase is a whole kernel. It differs significantly in taste, aroma, and beneficial properties from the powder that is sold in bags.

A high-quality nut can be completely round, but most often it has a shape close to an oval; it is light brown or gray-brown in color. Be sure to feel the fruit you like - it should be very hard and not too dry.

Here's a little secret - you can't break a fresh specimen with your hands, but an old one crumbles under the pressure of your fingers. Inspect the nut that you failed to defeat - whether there are dark or light spots, cracks, or dents on its surface, especially in the place where it was attached to the branch.

As you already know, nutmeg kernels are covered with wrinkles, but keep in mind that they should not be too deep.

It is very important to understand the nuances of those spices that are sold in stores and markets under the guise of nutmeg. Yes Yes! This overseas spice is often falsified. Thank you, they are not made of plastic, but they pass it off as a silver nut (papua nutmeg), more similar in shape to an acorn.

It is quite edible, but contains less essential oil than fragrant nutmeg, and therefore its smell disappears very quickly. Moreover, for some time the silvery counterpart of the spice we are interested in was classified as counterfeit, although it is currently classified as a technical product.

But another nutmeg substitute, wild Indian nut (bombay nutmeg), is considered counterfeit to this day, but despite this, it is quite often found on sale under the guise of a popular spice. It, like the silver nut, has an acorn-like shape.

I don’t recommend buying nutmeg powder - I just don’t see the point, honestly.

Firstly, good seeds will not be crushed, even a child understands this. If they are ground, it means something is unclean with them. And, secondly, you will never get from the once industrially crushed spice that amazing taste and aroma that a freshly grated whole nutmeg ball will give you.

Most people just choose powder so as not to “bother”, although personally I don’t see any problems in taking a fine grater and making a couple of strokes with the hand in which the nut is clamped. I generally stopped buying crushed spices a long time ago - I got myself a mortar and mini-grater. The aroma of the dishes was amazing!

You can buy a special mill or even a scraper for grinding nutmeg - you won’t regret it. Or maybe you have already become the proud owner of such kitchen devices? Share your finds!

How to properly store nutmeg?

Whether you store powdered spice correctly or incorrectly, it still won’t give you a stunning effect. However, if you nevertheless purchased nutmeg in a bag, it is better to use it immediately, well, or in the next few days, otherwise later it will simply be tasteless and not aromatic sand.

The whole fruit is a profitable investment, since in a dry glass container with a tightly closed lid it can last for a year.

In the tropics of Europe, Africa and Asia, wild species of this plant are still found; there are about 10 of them.

For food consumption, fragrant nutmeg is grown in many countries around the world, all varieties of which are divided into two main groups:

West Indian– large and smooth fruits of light yellow color with a delicate aroma and refined taste. The bulk of grown nuts in this category occur on the island of Grenada. They are carefully sorted after full ripening, so Grenadian spices are always of high quality.
East Indian– nuts are smaller in size, rougher, with a bright orange pericarp, with a bright taste and strong aroma due to a large amount of essential oils. In Indonesia, they are harvested unripe, so their taste and aroma are more pronounced. This product is sorted by size, and most often this is not the case, so its quality leaves much to be desired.

If you add such a nut to tea, the drink will become more healthy.

Benefits of nutmeg

Eating this spice has a beneficial effect on brain function - improves memory and increases concentration.
Nutmeg also has a positive effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
This product has analgesic properties. Nutmeg essential oil is especially famous for this.
If you drink warm milk with the addition of this spice according to Ayurveda, as I wrote a little higher in the culinary section of the article, then you will have a sound, deep sleep. This drink helps cope with insomnia.
For small children over 7 years old, this milk will help improve their appetite.
The warming properties of nutmeg will help those people who often get cold feel comfortable during the cold season.
If you add nutmeg essential oil to a massage product, it will warm the body well.
This property of the product is also used in the treatment of colds and hypothermia.
Nutmeg oil added to the aroma lamp helps cope with viruses and bacteria.
Feel free to add this spice to your dishes (within reason, of course!), as it improves the digestion process, reduces inflammation without being too serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
It also has a beneficial effect on the liver and cleanses the body of waste and toxins.
In men, this spice increases libido, and in women it facilitates menstruation.
If you regularly chew pieces of nutmeg, they will improve the condition of your teeth and gums. Naturopaths claim that this natural remedy can even reduce toothache.
This beneficial spice also has a positive effect on the kidneys - it destroys infection and crushes stones.
Ground nutmeg can be used as a natural facial scrub, just remember that this spice is not suitable for sensitive skin.
If you rub it into the scalp, your hair grows better and stops falling out. Of course, regularity is important here!

Harm of nutmeg

I hope you remember that such a useful and delicious product, in fact, is not harmless. If you exceed the dosage I indicated in the culinary section (1 gram per serving!), there may be serious consequences.

A large amount of nutmeg causes nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, laughter (although, it seems to me, there is somehow no time for laughter during vomiting!), as well as a hangover-like condition - headache, dizziness, weakness, dry mouth, redness eyes, rapid heartbeat. In some severe cases, there may be fainting and increased blood pressure.

That is why it is contraindicated for easily excitable and elderly people, individuals with nervous system disorders, children under 7 years of age, as well as pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Consuming 50-100 grams of nutmeg powder can be fatal! Here's the spice...

Frequent consumption of large quantities of this spice can cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. It should not be used for ulcers and gastritis.

Even essential oil obtained from the fruits of this plant must be used with caution - strictly follow the dosage indicated in the recipes, dilute with base and vegetable oils. In its pure form it can cause burns on the skin, especially sensitive ones. You should not use it in aroma lamps for more than 4 hours a day.

Nutmeg, the red fibrous shell of the kernel, is also used to produce a spice called mace. It has a less intense taste than the nutmeg powder known to many, but is very similar to it.
At the beginning of the 17th century, European aristocrats did not appear at a party or at a feast without a nutmeg ball and a small silver grater - they did not miss the opportunity to improve the cook’s work and add a pinch of this spice to the dish. Hmm, maybe I should adopt it?! 😀
The flag of the island of Grenada, which is one of the top ten world leaders in the production of this spice, depicts - who do you think? – yes, he is the one, the hero of my article today.
The Chinese consider nutmeg a drug, since the isosapholl myristicin contained in it gave birth to several types of narcotic substances.
In the 60s of the last century, hippies “threw” a few tablespoons of nutmeg powder and got high. 😆 This place begs for a warning so that you don’t try to repeat this!

I hope you don't use that useful product like this in an original way, but just modestly, like me, rub it into vegetable stews and soups. By the way, which ones? Share your recipes, tell us what connects you with nutmeg!

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