Myristica fragrans

Nutmeg is the seed of an evergreen tree native to the Molucca Islands. The tree does not bear fruit until its 7th year, but it will continue to bear fruit until its 90th year.

Nutmeg is a brown to reddish brown powder with a combination of sweet, bitter, and slightly spiced taste.

In India, nutmeg has been said to relieve headaches and insomnia. However, use caution when adding to dishes because nutmeg contains myristicin, a hallucinatory compound.

Add some nutmeg to your next soup or batch of preserves for a less than traditional application.

Common uses of nutmeg include eggnog, puddings, and fruit pies.

Nutmeg can be added at any point in the cooking process, it is generally added before cooking to incorporate the flavor and sprinkled on top of dishes after cooking as a garnish.