Nutmeg is the core of the bony part of the fruit of the nutmeg tree, which grows almost 100 years, and actively fruiting just the first 40 years. For one fruitful year plant can produce more than 10 thousand fruits that have the color and the size of a large apricot. When fully ripe the fruit burst in two.
The nut is nothing more than a seed inside the bone and separated the bones first dried in the sun, and then cleaned from the tree of the shell. Core re-dried over an open flame to purchase them dark brown. The total term for quality nutmeg may reach 2. 5-4 months. The finished nut has an oval shape, 2-3 cm in length and 1. 5-2 cm in width. However, some nuts are more of a round shape, which determines the intensity of flavor.
Properties of nutmeg have been known in the days of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. It was used for the treatment of many diseases, was added to the food and’m perfuming the air. In the 1st century spice has been described by Pliny the Younger, and its widespread use began only after the Millennium. In Europe and other countries of the world nutmeg hit in the days of the colonialist campaigns of the Portuguese and the Dutch. They belonged to Mollucca Islands, on which grow a nutmeg tree.
Until the early 19th century, the Netherlands and Portugal managed to keep world of monopoly high price for spice. However, after the start of platanos plantations in India, Latin America, Indonesia and Ceylon, the price of nutmeg fell sharply. Wild nutmeg can be found on the Islands Pit and Sumatra. And special plantations of walnut are mostly concentrated in Brazil, India, Sri Lanka and African countries.
Best nutmeg acquire in the nuclei. So they last longer retain their flavor and useful properties. If there is no possibility to buy a nut, then you need to choose the ground nuts in resealable packages trusted manufacturer.
Useful properties of nutmeg
The kernel of nutmeg contain vitamins (A, b, PP, H, E), minerals (phosphorus, magnesium, iron, calcium, chlorine, sulfur, sodium, zinc, copper, iodine and others), essential oil, starch and pectin.
If you use ground nutmeg in small doses, manifest its positive qualities. It has a strong stimulating and tonic effect on the cardiovascular, nervous system. Nutmeg is used in Oriental medicine for the treatment of men with rapid ejaculation, impotence and other disorders related to lack of sexual desire and as a result, excitation.
Very small doses of nutmeg can calm the nervous system, to regain lost sleep. Adding it to warm massage oil or hot tea can get rid of the first signs of colds and enhance immunity.
If prepared on the basis of nutmeg and warm sunflower oil in a thick paste, it can be used for the treatment of myositis, arthritis, rheumatism and osteochondrosis. Still warm paste is applied to the affected area, cover with polythene and warm cloth. Leave this compress on for 10-20 minutes until cool.
Nutmeg perfectly helps with constipation, diarrhea and other disorders of the stomach and intestines, as well as loss of appetite, excessive gas formation. To do this, mix low-fat yogurt, water (125 g), dry ginger and nutmeg (1/3 teaspoon). The resulting mixture chug.
In cooking
Ground nutmeg is widely used in food processing and cooking. It is added to cakes, curd desserts, pies, chocolate products, sauces, compotes, soups, side dishes, dishes of vegetables and meat. Fine walnut combined with tomatoAMI, so it is one of the components factory of tomato juices and ketchups. Also nutmeg is added to the cooking process in alcoholic drinks (wine, punch, mulled wine) and cocktails based on milk for additional flavor. In food industry, nutmeg is used in the manufacture of fish canned food, spicy mixture of curry and other foods.
Except nutmeg powder of it still make a fragrant essential oil, which is used for aromatherapy, as a fragrance in perfumery, in the manufacture of cigarettes and tobaccoand pipes. Corky walnut is used for preparation of essences (matinee oil), which in Europe is widely used for cooking sauces, cheeses, mustards.
Among the substances nutmeg contains elemicin, methylenedioxy-simvatatin and other substances that have hallucinogenic and narcotic effects. If you eat 3-4 fresh kernels of nutmeg, or equivalent of dried nuts, you can get severe food poisoning, which may be accompanied by cramps, disorientation, heart palpitations, euphoria, stupor, slurred speech, drug intoxication, hallucinations. The use of a larger amount of nutmeg maybe a coma or death. When you experience one of the symptoms should immediately consult a doctor.
Nutmeg essential oil is contraindicated for pregnant women, in attacks of epilepsy and hypersensitivity to the components.
Nutmeg is the core of the bony part of the fruit of the nutmeg tree, which has been growing for almost 100 years, and has been actively producing fruit for the first 40 years. For one fruitful year the plant can give more than 10 thousand fruits, which have the color and size of a large apricot. When fully ripened, the fruits burst in half.
The walnut itself is nothing more than a seed inside the bone and for its separation, the stones are first dried in the sun, and then cleaned of the treelike shell. The nuclei are repeatedly dried over an open fire until they are dark brown in color. The total period for obtaining high-quality nutmeg can reach 2. 5-4 months. The finished nut has an oval shape 2-3 cm long and 1. 5-2 cm wide. However, some nuts are more round in shape, on which the richness of the fragrance depends.
Nutmeg application
Properties of nutmeg were known even in the times of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. It was used to treat many diseases, added to food and flavored air. In the 1st c. Spice was described by Pliny the Younger, and its widespread use began only after a millennium. In Europe and other countries of the world, nutmeg fell during the colonialist campaigns of the Portuguese and the Dutch. They belonged to the Mollukk Islands, on which grew a nutmeg tree. Until the beginning of the 19th century.
Holland and Portugal managed to keep the world monopoly and a high price for spicery. However, after the beginning of fruit bearing plantations in India, Latin America, Indonesia and Ceylon, the price of nutmeg dropped sharply. In the wild, nutmeg can be found on the islands of Flores and Sumatra. And special plantations for walnut cultivation are mainly concentrated in Brazil, India, Sri Lanka and African countries.
It is best to buy nutmeg in kernels. So they last longer retain their aroma and useful properties. If it is not possible to purchase a whole nut, then you need to choose a ground nut in hermetically sealed packs of a trusted manufacturer.
Nutrition information in 100 grams:
Proteins, Fats gr, gr Carbohydrates, Zola gr, gr Water gr Calories, kcal
21 49 7. 5 3. 1 9. 5 557
Useful properties of nutmeg
Composition and availability of nutrients
Nutmeg kernels contain vitamins (A, B, PP, H, E), minerals (phosphorus, magnesium, iron, calcium, chlorine, sulfur, sodium, zinc, copper, iodine and others), essential oils, starch and pectin.
Useful and medicinal properties
When using ground nutmeg in small doses, its positive properties are manifested. It has a strong stimulating and tonic effect on the cardiovascular, nervous system. Nutmeg is used in oriental medicine to treat men with rapid ejaculation, impotence and other disorders associated with lack of sexual desire and, as a result, excitement.
Quite small doses of nutmeg can calm the nervous system, restore the lost sleep. Adding it for warming in massage oil or hot tea can get rid of the first signs of a cold and improve immunity.
If you cook a thick paste based on nutmeg and warm the sunflower oil, then it can be used to treat myositis, arthritis, rheumatism and osteochondrosis. For this, a warm paste is applied to the sore spot, covered with polyethylene and a warm cloth. Leave such a compress for 10-20 minutes before cooling down completely.
Nutmeg perfectly helps with constipation, diarrhea and other abnormalities of the stomach and intestines, as well as loss of appetite, excessive gas formation. To do this, mix low-fat yogurt, water (125 grams), dried ginger and nutmeg (1/3 tsp). The resulting mixture to drink a volley.
In cooking
Ground nutmeg is widely used in food industry and cooking. It is added to pastries, curd desserts, pies, chocolate products, sauces, compotes, soups, side dishes, dishes from vegetables and meat. Walnut Perfectly combined with tomatoes, so it is one of the components of factory tomato juices and ketchups. Also, nutmeg is added during the preparation to alcoholic drinks (wine, punch, mulled wine) and milk-based cocktails for their additional aromatization. In the food industry, nutmeg is used in the manufacture of canned fish, a spicy mixture of curry and other food products.
In addition to the nutmeg powder, a fragrant essential oil is also made from it, which is used for aromatherapy, as a perfume in perfumery, in the manufacture of cigarettes and tobacco for pipes. Nut crusts are used for making essences (mazis oil), which in Europe is widely used for making sauces, cheeses, mustard.
Hazardous properties of nutmeg
Among the substances of nutmeg contain emimitsin, methenene-syampetamine and other substances that have hallucinogenic and narcotic effects. If you eat 3-4 fresh kernels of nutmeg or a similar amount of dried nut, you can get a severe food poisoning, which can be accompanied by spasms, disorientation,
