Description:
Nutmeg is native to the Spice Islands of Indonesia. Currently, Indonesia is the largest producer of Nutmeg oil in the world. The other major producer countries are Guatemala, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Tanzania, Grenada, and Sri Lanka. Indonesia is exporting over 50% of the world’s export of nutmeg. Grenada is the second-largest exporter of nutmeg in the world.

The Nutmeg plant is a dioecious plant with male and female flowers on different trees. Nutmeg (Family: Myristicaceae) produces two separate spices, namely nutmeg, and mace. Nutmeg is the dried kernel of the seed and mace is the dried aril surrounding it. Commercial nutmeg is the dried kernel of the seed, whereas mace is dried aril surrounding the seeds.

Nutmeg oil contains 7 to 14% essential oil, the principal components of which are pinene, camphene, and 3-carene. The Indian and Sri Lankan varieties have the following common constituents: β-Phellandrene, β-Pinene, α-Pinene, Terpinen-4-ol, Sabinene, Elemicine, and β-Myrcene. The quality parameter of the oil depends upon the presence of 9 constituents in the essential oil of Nutmeg, In general, these are sabinene, alpha-pinene, 3-carene, beta-pinene, limonene, myristicine, gamma-terpinene, safrole, and 4-terpineol.

Cultivation and Harvesting:
In India, nutmeg is mainly cultivated in Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Kottayam districts of Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, it is cultivated in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts.

Nutmeg is usually propagated by seeds. The best growing conditions: temperatures (20 – 30°C), rainfall (200 – 350 cm), dry climate, and waterlogged conditions are not suitable for nutmeg cultivation.

Nutmeg tree starts fruiting from the 6 years and the peak harvesting period reaches after 15 years. The fruits ripen and become ready for harvesting when their pericarp splits open. Generally, a healthy tree yields about 2000 to 2500 fruits annually on an average.

Odor profile:
Spicy, warm, woody

Major Constituents:
Pinene, Sabinene, myrcene, Limonene, terpinene, 4-terpineol, Myristicine, Alpha thunjene, Beta ocimene, 3-carene, Alpha terpinolen, Alpha bornyl acetate, eugenol, methyl eugenol, isoeugenol, elimicine.

Application:
~ Nutmeg essential oil is used to cure toothache, joint pain and muscle cramps, Nausea.
~ It also helps in reducing wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging.

Aromatherapy:
In aromatherapy, Nutmeg oil can be inhaled. Massage the warming aroma of Nutmeg oil to promote sound sleep, alleviate fatigue, calm the senses, and induce a sense of relaxation.