We have a nutmeg tree
@allknowing (153544)
India
July 28, 2017 1:24am CST
This is the time for the nutmegs to drop off the tree. I like to pick them up and collect them - an interesting passtime for me early in the morning. There is a great demand both for the mace (outer red cover) and the nutmeg which is sold to shops that buy condiments . Nutmeg is considered a healthy ingredient for so many ayurveda preparations.
We use nutmeg as a flavouring for our pudding, cakes and French Toast.
11 people like this
11 responses
@allknowing (153544)
• India
28 Jul 17
This is the time they drop off the tree as one does not harvest them from the tree. It is a huge job then for your sister. She must be having workers.
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
28 Jul 17
I'm familiar with both nutmeg and mace (and knew that they came from the same plant) but I have never seen fresh nutmegs harvested from the tree and I didn't know that fresh mace was bright red. I presume that you throw away the fleshy part or shell which is shown in your photo enclosing the red mace and the nut.
The flavour of nutmeg has been known in the West since Roman times, I believe. It is one of the old, traditional spices used to favour milk puddings, such as custard, especially. I also like to add a little to meat stews.
I have heard that, in some quantity, nutmeg is a hallucinogen and that people can get 'high' on it. I've never tried it myself and I don't know anyone who has but that is what I have read! Of course, almost anything taken in excess can be dangerous or poisonous.
2 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
28 Jul 17
The fleshy outer shell is used by some to make jam but I do not do it. The mace just covers the nutmeg which has a hard shell.
I was not aware of the intoxication that nutmegs produce if taken in excess.
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
28 Jul 17
@allknowing Apparently it has particularly unpleasant side effects (nausea, vomiting and diahorrea) which happen long before one gets high so most people only try it once! You also need to take two or three teaspoons full, which is really quite a lot (and rather bitter tasting in that quantity).
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@allknowing (153544)
• India
28 Jul 17
@owlwings "You also need to take two or three teaspoons full," What exactly are you talking about? Teaspoon of what? Here the only use is to add flavour to puddings and stuff and a pinch(powder) of it is added to milk if one has lung congestion. This is what people here do. I do not think they have knowledge of what you are saying.
@allknowing (153544)
• India
28 Jul 17
Where have you seen the plant? It is a tree and looks pretty nice.
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@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
28 Jul 17
@allknowing I just saw it from your post
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@allknowing (153544)
• India
28 Jul 17
@youless I have not posted a photo of the tree
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@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
28 Jul 17
I like just a tiny bit of nutmeg in rice pudding.
Great photo.
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@Bodyandbrain (13797)
• Gurgaon, India
28 Jul 17
It is looking very nice, I have not seen in real.
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