THE SPICE YOU CAN’T DO WITHOUT THIS SEASON Part 1

   The rich smell of nutmeg will surely fill the air in many kitchens during this Christmas season.  Be it the traditional Christmas cake, the tried and tested Christmas pudding or the magical Christmas mince pies, who can do without some grated or powdered nutmeg. Undoubtedly, the unique distinct pungent fragrance of nutmeg and the warm slightly sweet taste adds such a mystic smell and taste to our holiday treats. This time you can even try a nutmeg roasted turkey or garlic and nutmeg rice for a difference to your family Christmas meal. Nutmeg, one of the spice of the Christmas season with the other being, cloves, cinnamon and ginger are all fragrant and exotic and anything made with these smells so much of Christmas.


    Nutmeg, known as Saddikka in sinhala and Saddikkai in Tamil, scientifically Myristica  fragrans in the family Myristicaceae is a spreading evergreen tree that reaches up to 15 to 20 metres in height. The fruit that is a pendulous drupe slits into when fully nature exposing the crimson coloured leathery let like rail which is the spice mace. This surrounds a single shiny brown seed the nutmeg. So nutmegs are really seeds and not nuts as the name may imply.  The fruit pulp is most often discarded.


   After collection of the aril enveloped nutmegs they are transferred for curing where the mace is removed, flattened out and dried. The nutmeg is gently dried in the sun during which time the seed shrinks away from its hard seed coat and rattles in its shell when shaken. Nutmeg is marketed in this form an prior to use the hard shell is broken and the seed taken out. Dried nutmeg is greyish brown and oval in shape.



    In Sri Lanka no specific varieties have been identified. Nutmeg prefers cool climates such as the mid country areas in Sri Lanka are the best for growing nutmeg with about 80% of the cultivation being in the Kandy district. Kegalle and Matale are the other major growing areas. The Sri Lankan nutmeg has an intense sweet flavour and sublime aroma.


                   Health Benefits 


Eases indigestion 

Nutmeg offers effective relief for digestion related problems such as diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and flatulence. It is also effective in boosting appetite. To cure diarrhoea, brew about 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg powder with a teaspoon of coffee in a cup of water, filter and drink.


Treats bad breath 

Due to its antibacterial properties nutmeg is effective against halitosis and bad breath by getting rid of mouth bacteria and boosting the immunity of gums and teeth.


Effective liver and kidney detox 

The toxic build up in the liver and kidney is efficiently removed by nutmeg. To some extent it is also god for dissolving and removing kidney stones.


Aids sleep 

If you have difficulty falling asleep at night, warm cup of milk with a pinch of nutmeg powder and drink. This ia a good relaxant and will induce sleep.

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TO BE CONTINUED............