Nutmeg isn’t technically a nut; it’s the dried fruit of an evergreen,
tropical tree native to the area of Indonesia commonly referred to as
the Spice Islands. As its species name of “fragrans” implies, nutmeg is
very fragrant.
Today, nutmeg is cultivated throughout Indonesia as well as China,
Taiwan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and South America. In the respective
cuisines of these regions, nutmeg is used to flavor sweet and savory
foods as well as beverages and liquors.