Nugmeg & Mace; two spices derived from one fruit!

BM Uniproducts BV imports and re-exports Nutmeg, directly from its Origin to our Clients. As valuable as it for the European cuisine, as beautiful and valuable it is at the Origin where the Nutmeg Trees are well-known for centuries, even before the Portuguese arrived at the shores of Banda Islands; It has been recorded that some trees even reach a hundred years of harvest.

The most important commercial species of the nutmeg tree-family is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas of Indonesia, or Spice Islands. The nutmeg tree is important for two spices derived from the fruit, nutmeg and mace. Nutmeg is the actual seed of the tree, roughly egg-shaped and about 20 to 30 mm (0.8 to 1 in) long and 15 to 18 mm (0.6 to 0.7 in) wide, and weighing between 5 and 10 g (0.2 and 0.4 oz) dried, while mace is the dried "lacy" reddish covering or aril of the seed. The first harvest of nutmeg trees takes place 7–9 years after planting, and the trees reach full production after 20 years. Although with new Agricultural technologies applied, yield can be done at an earlier phase. This is the only tropical fruit that is the source of two different spices.

Sulawesi (Siauw) , The Moluccas Islands and Ternate are examples where Nutmeg Trees thrive and have been grown for centuries; since the Portuguese harbored in The Moluccas, these Islands have been known to the western world as the original spice islands from where nutmeg originated, prior to its presence in the dining room and western cuisine.
The climatic conditions and the soil structure in the Indonesian Archipelago are favorable to the production of Nutmeg in these islands. Nutmegs trees require sea breeze, clean air, non-polluted water and mountainous soil. All of these elements can be found there, and are important requirements for the best quality. The quality, the sweet pleasant smell of Indonesian nutmeg from Siauw, Ambon, Banda and Ternate (to mention just a several Origins from Indonesia), cannot be compared to the nutmeg grown elsewhere.

Nutmeg is a highly demanded spice of high value. At one time nutmeg was one of the most desired spice in History; and it is currently one of the most valuable. Indonesia is the main country where Nutmeg is much sought after by Importers from Europe, Japan, and elsewhere; Being currently the main producer of nutmeg in the world, covering over 70% of the world production of Nutmeg, a near world monopoly of quality nutmeg production can only be found here, in the Indonesian Archipelago; even more so, these figure has grown since the production of Nutmeg in Grenada has almost been wiped out by a terrible storm, in 2004. Nutmeg and mace have traditionally been the major exports for Grenada. Before Hurricane Ivan, Grenada was the world's second-largest producer after Indonesia, supplying one-quarter of world demand. The principal import markets are the European Community, the United States, Japan, and India Singapore and the Netherlands are major re-exporters.

The Molucca Islands; the original spices islands where nutmeg originated

The conditions of the infra-structure are favorable in these islands. Nutmegs trees need sea breeze, clean air, none polluted water and mountainous soil is the important requirement for the best quality. The first harvest of nutmeg trees takes place 7 -9 years after planting, reaching full production after 20 years.

The quality, the sweet pleasant smell of Bandanese nutmeg cannot be compared to the nutmeg grown elsewhere. Nutmeg is a highly desirable spice of incredible value. At one time nutmeg was one of the most valuable spices.
Indonesia, besides Granada, is the main producer of nutmeg in the world. Nutmeg is the dried kernel of the fleshy, ocher yellow, apricot-like fruit. The pit is surrounded by a hard shell: after drying in the sun the bark cracks and the nutmeg comes free.