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About Nutmeg & Mace |
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When a Nutmeg fruit is cut open, the first thing that is revealed is the bright red lacy layer of mace, called the aril, which surrounds
Information provided by Herbies Spices
MACE
Other Common Names: Blade Mace, Jaffatry. Botanical Name: (Myristica fragrens houtt)
Description & Use:
When a Nutmeg fruit is cut open, the first thing that is revealed is the bright red lacy layer of mace, called the aril, which surrounds the nutmeg inside. The mace is peeled off and dried, turning a rusty brown colour. Although the aroma of mace is reminiscent of nutmeg, mace is not generally used in sweet dishes the way nutmeg is. A few blades of mace, as the pieces are called, compliment the flavour of steamed fish and vegetables. Mace has no connection at all to mace spray an irritant made from capsicum and so called because a mace is also a big stick used for personal protection!
NUTMEG
Other Common Names: Muskat, Muskatnuss. Botanical Name: (Myristica fragrans)
Description & Use:
Nutmeg and mace are contained within a yellow to light-brown fleshy fruit resembling a peach that grows on an evergreen tree. Nutmeg, regarded as a sweet spice, is used in sweet dishes, with fruit and in pastries. Compliments vegetables such as pumpkin, carrot and spinach. Mace however is more pungent and tends to be used in savoury dishes such as sauces for fish, in pickles and chutneys. When picked and cut open the blood red mace is removed and dried. The nutmeg with shell is dried until it rattles, the thin outer shell is then removed leaving the inner nutmeg. Whole mace is referred to as blade mace. Whole nutmegs should be sound and unbroken with little or no evidence of worm activity. Avoid BWPs (broken, wormy and punky nutmegs) being low grade, generally last-season material which is low in oil content and when ground yields a light brown powder. The volatile oil in nutmeg and mace contains small amounts of myristicin and elemicin, which are narcotic and poisonous, therefore they should be used sparingly. It is common to want to substitute nutmeg for mace, however this is not recommended as there is nothing like the real thing.
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