Nutmeg is the dried seed of the fruit of an evergreen. Warm and sweet, nutmeg adds depth to desserts and savory dishes alike. Sprinkle it on your eggnog, but try it on your potatoes, too!
Botanical name: Myristica fragrans Houtt. , Myristica fragrans
Mace and nutmeg both come from the fruit of Myristica fragrans, an aromatic evergreen that grows to 66 feet, with dark green leaves, aromatic flowers, and large, brownish/yellow fruit. The female trees produce the fleshy fruit that splits in half once mature. The bright red, lacy covering (the aril) is harvested as mace, while the seeds are used for nutmeg. Nutmegs can be harvested when the trees are 7 to 9 years old, and the tree reaches full harvest maturity after about 20 years.
