HWN Suggests

No Innocent Spice: The Secret Story Of Nutmeg, Life And Death

Ah, nutmeg! Whether it's sprinkled on eggnog, baked into spice cake or blended into a latte, this pungent spice can evoke memories of holidays past. We tend to link it to celebratory times. But a lot of blood has been shed over this little brown seed. "Nutmeg has been one of the saddest stories of history," explains culinary historian Michael Krondl. If you listen to my story you'll hear the gruesome, grisly tale of how the Dutch tortured and massacred the people of the nutmeg-producing Banda Islands in Indonesia in an attempt to monopolize the nutmeg trade.

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 Nutmeg: The Holiday Spice With a Glamorous Past

At the time of what is generally accepted as the first Thanksgiving—in Plymouth in 1621— nutmeg was one of the most popular spices among Europeans. For those who could afford the pricey seasoning, it was used as commonly as black pepper is today. Fashionable people carried around their own personal nutmeg graters.

Articles of Interest

This Holiday Spice Can Make You Loopy

Nutmeg is such a cozy spice. We sprinkle it on eggnog, add it to French toast and pumpkin pie, and use it to give extra pizzazz to sweet potatoes, carrots, acorn squash, quiche, and crème brulée. Medieval drinkers—who spelled it notemygge—put it in their ale. Nutmeg—and its spice partner, mace—are also key ingredients in haggis, the Scottish pudding made from sheep organs (heart, livers, and lungs) and oatmeal, traditionally boiled in a sheep’s stomach. Robert Burns fans eat it on the poet’s birthday, washed down with a lot of Scotch whiskey.

A Warning on Nutmeg

Of all the well-loved seasonal spices, nutmeg stands out for its long and slightly twisted history. In the Middle Ages, it was used to end unwanted pregnancies. More recently, desperate prisoners embraced it as a rather miserable drug substitute. So, on occasion, have teenagers, some of whom wound up at poison control centers. A couple of years ago, a man in Sweden claimed that nutmeg had induced him to spit at strangers on the street.

Consider nutmeg

It's the headiest and most blood-soaked of spices. How do you use nutmeg and mace?

Health Benefits of Nutmeg and How it Gave Us New York

The early popularity of nutmeg was driven by the belief that it could prevent the waves of many diseases, fuelled by unsanitary conditions in medieval times, which swept across Europe. Europeans were introduced to it through Muslim traders which led to it becoming highly prized and sought after. The nutmeg was believed to be beneficial in the prevention of the the bubonic plague. The Romans had used nutmeg as an incense. The irony that a spice which brings such comfort to many was a catalyst for such sorrow is not lost. The lengths Europeans went to in monopolizing the trade in nutmeg shows how important it was on their radar, and how greed was a driving force for crimes against humanity.

Nutmeg ( Myristica fragrans Houtt.) essential oil: A review on its composition, biological, and pharmacological activities

Myristica fragrans (Houtt.) is an evergreen tree native to the Maluku Islands, Indonesia. M. fragrans kernel is extensively used in Indian traditional medicines to treat various diseases. Several studies attempt to compile and interpret the pharmacological potential of Myristica fragrans (Houtt.) aqueous and various chemical extracts. Thus, the pharmacological potential of nutmeg essential oil has not been reviewed phytochemically and pharmacologically.

Nutmeg and mace: The sweet and savoury spices

Nutmeg, mace (the membrane of the nutmeg seed), and cloves have long been considered as exotic spices in European cuisine. Nutmeg and mace come from the same tree, Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae), and share a large number of aromatic volatiles.

Teens Are Using Nutmeg to Get High. Here’s What You Need to Know

TikTok trends are at it again. This time, the “Nutmeg Challenge” has inspired teens to ingest large quantities of the spice to induce hallucinations. If you’re wondering, “can nutmeg get you high?” the answer is yes—and teens know it. Some schools have already confiscated jars of nutmeg in students’ backpacks and suspended the students involved. Unfortunately, the spice can be very dangerous, and deaths have been reported from nutmeg poisoning. For parents, this is scary news. Here’s what you need to know about nutmeg intoxication, including symptoms, what causes a nutmeg trip, and what to do if your child is using dangerous substances.

Wanderlust: Nutmeg, the sexy spice

The ladies dancing in the streets at a wedding celebration here haven’t had a drop of alcohol, but they look remarkably tipsy as they flirtingly parade their assets in front of a row of neighborhood men. The women are wrapped head-to-toe in kanga, the colorful African fabric Muslim women here use to cover their hair and legs. But that hardly stops them from shaking their hips like Beyonce. What’s the trick? “Nutmeg,” explains Mohamed Mwinyi, neighbor of the bride, who works as a tourist guide in town. “In the morning of a wedding or other important day women put nutmeg in their porridge. It makes them loose.”

Resources

3 Classic Holiday Spices That Have Serious Health Benefits

This holiday spice has been used for its healing powers since ancient times. Famed for inducing drowsiness, nutmeg is great to sprinkle into herbal tea before bed if you battle insomnia. Indulging in some eggnog? Add a dash to regulate your digestive system. The spice also has antimicrobial properties which kill bad bacteria that cause cavities. What more could you need from your spice rack?

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Nutmeg

Keep a jar of this warm spice on hand--it's loaded with health benefits you may not have known about ...

8 Science-Backed Benefits of Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a spice that can add a warm, nutty flavor to savory and sweet dishes alike. It may those with heart conditions or high blood sugar levels may benefit from this spice.