Grenada, a beautiful island in the Eastern Caribbean, is the world's second largest producer of nutmeg. The nutmeg tree, Myristica Fragrans, is truly remarkable in that it produces a fruit, the pericarp of which encloses two distinct spices: - nutmeg and mace. The tree is a handsome, densely foliaged evergreen, with spreading branches, dark brown bark and small pale yellow bell shaped flowers. It grows to a height of 40 to 50 feet and thrives at elevations of 1500 to 2500 ft. in the rich volcanic soil in sheltered valleys of Grenada.

The pericarp or fleshy fruit is lemon yellow to light brown in colour. When ripe, it splits open exposing the brilliant scarlet, weblike membrane or avril known as the mace which enwraps a dark brown brittle shell. Inside the shell is the single glossy brown, oily seed - the nutmeg. In Grenada, the pericarp is known as the nutmeg pod and is used to manufacture Morne Delice nutmeg jam, jelly and syrup. The pod was formally a waste product of the nutmeg industry; however, since it is now utilized in the manufacture of de La Grenade nutmeg products, the nutmeg tree has become of greater economic importance to Grenada.

Nutmeg and mace are similar in aroma and taste but the mace is more refined and delicate. The aroma is rich, warm and highly aromatic. Culinary uses of the nutmeg include both sweet and savoury dishes. Grated nutmeg is added to beef, mutton, pork and lamb dishes and is also used extensively in desserts and cocktails. It adds a spicy flavour to vegetable dishes such as cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and mashed potatoes. In Grenada it is commonly included in meat stews, vegetable sauces, egg dishes, fruit salads, pie fillings and is shaken liberally into rum punch and punch a creme.

The use of nutmeg in traditional folk medicine is well documented. In India, Hindu physicians used nutmeg as a cure for headaches fever, bad breath and intestinal disorders. Nutmeg has been recommended in Arabian medical writings as an aphrodisiac and for the treatment of kidney and stomach ailments. Nutmeg oil which is extracted from the fixed fat is used in Grenada to relieve the pain of arthritis. Commercially, nutmegs are used in the manufacture of perfumes, soaps and shampoos. A large portion of Grenada's nutmegs is used in the meat packing industry of Scandinavia, where it is used to make various types of sausages. Nutmeg is also used in the manufacture of inhalents and linaments used to relieve the congestion associated with influenza and colds.