Nutmeg is a tropical tree that is grown commercially for the spice it provides. The spice, also called nutmeg, comes from the inner part of the tree’s brown seeds. The seeds develop in small fruits that look like golden-yellow pears when ripe. Nutmeg trees are native to the Molucca (Spice) Islands. They are now raised in Indonesia, the West Indies, Brazil, India, and Sri Lanka.
The nutmeg tree grows up to 70 feet (21 meters) tall and is an evergreen. It has gray-green leaves that are long and pointed with well-marked veins. The small pale yellow flowers droop in clusters and develop into fruit. As the fruit ripens, the fleshy part becomes hard. It finally splits open showing a bright scarlet membrane that partly covers the kernel of the seed. The spice called mace comes from this membrane (see Mace). Nutmeg is made by grating or grinding the kernels. It has a sweet, spicy flavor.
Nutmeg trees do not bear fruit until they are about nine years old. Each tree produces from 1,500 to 2,000 seeds yearly. The fleshy part of the fruit is sometimes preserved and eaten like candy. A clear oil called oil of nutmeg is made from the kernels.
