Description
Nutmegs are the most important agricultural resource of the Banda Islands, but they are also a significant crop on Ternate, Tidore and other Moluccan islands. After removing the seed coat, the nuts are laid out to dry. When dried, the seed – the nutmeg as it is sold – can be heard rattling in the shell when shaken. The shell is then broken open with a wooden hammer. The nutmeg itself is egg-shaped, two to two and a half centimetres long, grey-brown in colour and can be grated or scraped with a suitable instrument. – 1990
