What Is Nutmeg? Is It a Nut?

Fall is the best season, full stop. I’ll fight you if you disagree. It has the best weather, the best holidays, and the best food. Yea, that’s right: I’m a pumpkin spice pig. I’ll gobble it all up. Gimme, gimme, gimme. And no pumpkin spice flavor is complete without a healthy dose of nutmeg. What is this magical spice that encapsulates the cool, crisp air whipping through a pumpkin patch? Let’s find out everything there is to know about nutmeg. 

What is nutmeg?

You know that brown dusting on the top of your pumpkin spice latte or eggnog? That’s nutmeg. It starts as the inner pit of the fruit that grows on the nutmeg tree. And it ends up as either a ground spice or it can be purchased as is—sometimes it comes with a real cute little grater. 

If you crack open a nutmeg fruit, the inside looks freaking crazy. The nutmeg core is surrounded by a bright red covering called an aril. But the aril doesn’t entirely cover the inner pit; it looks like paint was dripped onto the pit and allowed the trickle down the sides. This aril is also the source of another culinary spice: mace. That’s right, nutmeg is a two-in-one deal.

Nutmeg is used in desserts in many countries. In America, we probably know it best as a key ingredient in a pumpkin pie. It’s also used in rice pudding quite often. But it is not limited to sweets. Many savory dishes also use nutmeg to enhance the flavors in potatoes, vegetables like Brussels sprouts, and a wide array of meat dishes. And nutmeg accompanies certain drinks like the aforementioned eggnog (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties), and tiki cocktails.

Where does nutmeg come from?

True nutmeg comes from trees that are native to Indonesia, making the country the primary producer of the spice throughout the world. Over time, the trees have been cultivated in several other countries, including Malaysia, southern India, and Grenada in the Caribbean.

Is nutmeg a nut?

Nope, nutmeg is a seed. But the line between nuts and seeds is very blurry and has confused people (mostly me) for centuries. I like to think of it like this: If it’s inside a fruit, it’s a seed. Now, I know this is not always the case. But the nutmeg tree produces a golden yellow fruit that looks like a pear. And the nutmeg seed inside it is where we get the spice. 

So, official declaration endorsed by Sporked scientists: Nutmeg is a seed, not a nut.

What does nutmeg taste like?

Nutmeg is so often an addition to foods that we rarely try it on its own. It definitely has a nutty taste—big surprise—but it also falls into that wider warm spice category like cloves. It’s just a touch sweet and a little bit peppery. There are also hints of coziness, hugs, and good cheer. All of these are legitimate flavors.

Does nutmeg go bad?

Nutmeg has a pretty long shelf life. If it’s kept in a cool, dry place, it can maintain its potency and flavor for 4-5 years. So you know that jar of nutmeg you bought to make a pumpkin pie last year? You can use it for this year’s Friendsgiving.