Brazilian Nutmeg
Brazilian nutmeg (Cryptocarya moschata -- Family Lauraceae) is thought to be the original and true nutmeg by some, especially in the area where this large tree grows in the southern Amazon region. It is from a totally different family and, although the kernel is much smaller, the aroma makes it a distinct, but interesting, spice. The stem is brown when young and turns almost white with age. Frequently growing as a shrub, it is prized as much for its yellowish hard timber as it is for its whitish fruits. The soft pulp contains one large seed with a ribbed and netted surface that does resemble the true nutmeg. Like many others in Lauraceae family, this spice also has a pungent smell and taste, making it useful as a flavouring.
