Mace and nutmeg both come from the fruit of the Myristica fragrans tree, named for its aromatic properties. Nutmeg is the seed at the heart of the fruit, encased in a hard shell. Break away the shell, and grate the nutmeg for an explosion of aroma and flavour.

Anamalai Nutmeg comes from the Anamalai Hills at the base of the Western Ghats mountain range. It is grown by Harish Manoj Kumar and Karthikeyan Palaniswamy on their permaculture family farm, home to an abundance of wildlife, from birds and butterflies to deer, wild boar, elephants, even tigers that pass through the property as they wish.

The Palaniswamy farm values diversity, interdependence, and the wellbeing of the ecosystem. The nutmeg trees are intercropped with cacao, pepper, banana, and coconut palms, on land where desi cows roam by day, and elephants visit by night!

Come harvest season, the fruit is picked, defleshed, cleaned, and dried to concentrate the flavors. It has deep earthy notes that work well in both sweet and savoury foods.