Nutmeg is native to a small cluster of islands in Indonesia, the Banda Islands. The fruit is oval shaped and about an inch long with a tan, brown color. The fruit is split open to reveal the seed, Nutmeg, which is wrapped in a bright red lacy covering called Mace. Both the Nutmeg and Mace have their own distinct flavors. Nutmeg is about 3/4 to 1 inch long and oval shaped with a flavor resembling that of Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Cloves.
Both Nutmeg and Mace have a long history in Asian cooking.
