This humble little fruit once had a value that surpassed gold. The nutmeg tree was indigenous to these tiny Banda islands. The Dutch fought a brutal war to control its production in the 1600s.

The British broke the monopoly by introducing it to other areas like Sri Lanka Malaysia and Singapore.

While the spices are no longer the cause of massacres and wars they remain a valued traded spice.

Nutmeg is the dried seed inside while mace is the delicate red lattice which covers the seed. Both encased in a hard yellow outer casing.

The trees take 6–7 years to reach fruition and then as the fruit ripens the outer casing splits to reveal the beautiful mace and nut inside. They are handpicked off the tree with a delicate catch -all bamboo instrument. Quite labour intense.

Cinnamon trees are also grown here with curls being cut off its bark.

Wondering what you do with them?

Some say they are aphrodisiacs but I just add them to cakes and my Aunt Toula’s rice pudding!