Spice Up Your Knowledge: 11 Exciting Nutmeg Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Nutmeg: Pumpkin Pie Spice & Teen Party Drug

If Charles Dickens were a millennial, he might have written "A Tale of Two Nutmegs": a spice for your pumpkin pie and an illicit party drug for inventive teens. Nutmeg experienced its 15 minutes of fame in 2010 when, fueled by Internet rumors, teens started using the spice to get high: The not-so-funny fallout saw a small spike in reported nutmeg intoxication cases, with symptoms ranging from severe gastrointestinal reactions to heart and nerve problems, and in rare circumstances, even death.
Source => abcnews.go.com

2. Nutmeg: Medieval Plague Protector & Soccer Slang

When the going gets tough, the tough get zesty: Nutmeg was so coveted in medieval Europe for its believed (but false) ability to ward off the bubonic plague that it often fetched prices equal to its weight in gold, while its hallucinogenic effects led German abbess Hildegard of Bingen to endorse nutmeg biscuits for daily consumption in the 12th century, and ultimately inspired exporters to sneak wooden replicas into their shipments, giving birth to the term "being nutmegged" for tricking someone in a clever, embarrassing fashion - a phrase still alive today, especially in the world of soccer as a move where top players like Messi, Ronaldo, and Kaka roll the ball between their opponents' legs, dazzling the crowds.
Source => evs-translations.com

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3. Nutmeg: Undercover Exterminator

Behold, the mighty nutmeg: a spice that moonlights as an exterminator! This undercover superhero zaps mosquitoes, mites, and beetles with its secret weapon, myristicin. But beware, for a double life comes with danger: consuming large doses of myristicin can lead to hallucinations and potentially toxic effects in living cells, so handle your nutmeg with care.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Nutty Nutmeg: Liver Protector & Memory Booster

Feeling a little nutty? Nutmeg's got your liver's back, boosts brainpower, and keeps the bad bugs away: This magical spice doesn't only make your dishes taste delicious, but it also contains properties that help in liver protection, memory enhancement, and fighting off microbes. Researchers have also found ways to increase its essential oil's bioactive ingredients with the help of magnesium aluminometasilicate, opening up a world of nutty goodness to boost human health!
Source => researchgate.net

5. Caution: Psychedelic Nutmeg in the Kitchen!

Spice up your life, but proceed with caution: Nutmeg, a common kitchen ingredient, secretly dabbles as a psychedelic with its compound myristicin, causing hallucinations and a "nutmeg high" when ingested in large quantities. Beware, though, as this rebellious seasoner can also induce severe gastrointestinal reactions, heart and nerve issues, leading the Florida Poison Information Center to experience a spike in nutmeg-related distress calls. With a history of underground nutmeg abuse in the early 1900s and mid-1960s, this sneaky spice remains unregulated by the FDA, proving that not all fun comes sugar, spice, and everything nice.
Source => abcnews.go.com

6. Nutmeg: The Béchamel Sauce Superhero

They said nutmeg had a secret side hustle, that it was more than just a pretty face on your pumpkin spice lattes: Nutmeg is actually a culinary superhero, making its mark by adding depth and a roasted sweetness to the legendary béchamel sauce, elevating its nutty aroma and creaminess.
Source => tastingtable.com

7. Spice Up Your Life: The Bandanese Nutmeg Traders

Move over, Spice Girls, the Bandanese traders are here to spice up your life! These nutmeg-slinging experts caused such an international frenzy that Europeans just couldn't resist: The Banda Islands were once the epicenter of the nutmeg trade, leading to European colonization attempts, but the Bandanese people, being master traders, survived and adapted, continuing to flourish and carry on their cultural traditions even today.
Source => atlasobscura.com

8. Nutmeg: A Bedtime Waltz with Benefits & Risks

Dreaming of nutmeg and sugarplum fairies? Nutmeg just might be the key to your bedtime waltz: This spice harbors a natural chemical called trimyristin, which can woo you to sleep and soothe those achy—breaky muscles. But be warned! Too much of this soothing sorcery can spawn nightmares like nausea, anxiety, and the dreaded desert mouth. So, do consult a doctor before inviting nutmeg to your nightcap routine and always adhere to its recommended daily dose.
Source => thehealthsite.com

9. Nutmeg: The Hipster Cousin of Gold

Once upon a thyme, in a land where nutmeg was the latte-sipping, fedora-wearing hipster cousin of gold: this treasured spice was actually valued at a higher price than the shiny metal itself, with tales of plague-fighting prowess and incredible healing powers soaring its 16th-century street cred to the spiciest levels imaginable.
Source => thekitchn.com

10. Scrooge McDuck's Nutmeg Swimming Pools

If Scrooge McDuck had been a spice trader, he would've swum in pools filled not only with gold coins but also with nutmeg: In the 17th century, nutmeg was one of the most valuable commodities on Earth, fiercely guarded by the Dutch who protected their trade by limiting the number of nutmeg trees, controlling the spice-making population, and even soaking nutmeg seeds in lime so no one could plant them without their consent.
Source => factsanddetails.com

11. Nutmeg Wars: The Dutch vs. The English

Once upon a thyme, spices were the reason countries waged war – and nutmeg was the forbidden fruit of choice: In the 1600s, the Dutch and the English clashed in the Nutmeg Wars to control the Banda Islands in Indonesia, the origin of the nutmeg tree. This highly treasured spice was reputed to possess enchanting aphrodisiac and hypnotic powers, and was even believed to grant good fortune to all who indulged in its mystique.
Source => newdirectionsaromatics.com