The History Of Nutmeg

A spice that has long been prized for it’s medicinal properties, the history of nutmeg goes back to the 1st Century as evidenced in writings by Pliny, the Roman philosopher. In Indian Vedic writings it is recommended for headaches, fever and bad breath, while Arabian writing praises it for stomach ailments and as an aphrodisiac.

Nutmeg is actually the seed from an evergreen tree. The scientific name for the most common type is Myristica fragrans. This plant actually produces both nutmeg and mace. The tree is indigenous to Australasia and tropical regions of Southeast Asia. There are a couple of species of trees used to produce nutmeg, the Fragrant Nutmeg is the most common, the Papuan Nutmeg and Bombay Nutmeg are less common.

Prized in medieval times for it’s uses in cuisine, nutmeg was traded in the middle ages by the Arabs. The spice has always been very popular and was even rumored to ward off the plague and cause self-abortions. While it might not ward off the plague, it is an abortifacient, and pregnant women should probably avoid nutmeg. Nutmeg in high doses can be toxic so it might be best to stick to a little sprinkle here and there.

Nutmeg is native to the Banda islands of Indonesia and, as is the history with many spices, the trade in nutmeg was dominated by Portugal in the 15th century. Then, in the 17th century the Dutch became the predominant traders of this precious spice. Back then, the only source of nutmeg was on Run Island and there were many struggles between the British and the Dutch over control of the Island and the nutmeg trade.

During the Napoleonic wars, the English did gain control and proceeded to plant nutmeg trees in Grenada and Zanzibar. This ensured that the British would not lose complete control of the Nutmeg trade should they ever decide to give up the island again. The expansion of nutmeg production also had the effect of making nutmeg accessible to more people at lower prices.

Today, nutmeg is produced in many places including the India, Malaysia, various Caribbean islands, New Guinea, and Sri Lanka. About 10,000 tons a year is produced and mainly used in the US, Japan, Europe and India.

While nutmeg is quite affordable today, it wasn’t always that way. In fact, throughout history nutmeg has been quite expensive. A few hundred years ago, a small bag of nutmeg would have brought enough money for the holder to be financially independent for the rest of his life!

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