We are familiar with nutmeg as a ubiquitous spice in autumn desserts, often in combination with cinnamon, as well as the flavouring in eggnog. But this warm spice also has a long and interesting history— traveling from Indonesia to England—and because of its high value, wars were fought to control trade.
Botanically known as Myristica fragrans, the nutmeg tree originates in Banda, the largest of the Molucca spice islands of Indonesia. The English word nutmeg comes from the Latin nux, meaning nut, and muscat, meaning musky.
Organic Nutmeg
- Ground nutmeg is ready to use in food and is a delicious addition to squash, lentils, pork, baked goods, porridges, or warm beverages like ciders or lattes.
- If you’re using whole nutmeg, grate it with a microplane or grater with smaller holes. Freshly grated nutmeg is delicious on fresh fruit, oatmeal, or yogurt.
- You can use it alone or pair it with other spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a warm, sweet flavour, which is why it’s commonly added to desserts, including pies, cakes, cookies, breads, fruit salads, and custards.
- Nutmeg can be sprinkled onto starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and pumpkin to create a deep, interesting flavour.
- What’s more, you can add it to warm or cold beverages, including apple cider, hot chocolate, chai tea, turmeric lattes, and smoothies.
Masala chai is a creamy, spiced tea that’s most popular in India but is increasingly enjoyed around the world. The primary difference between chai and masala chai is that masala chai includes spices, while chai is simply tea and milk.
MIX
· 4 Tbsp Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Powder
· 3 Tbsp Organic Ginger Powder
· 4 1/2 tsp Organic Cardamon Powder
· 1 Tbsp Organic Black Pepper Powder
· 3/4 tsp Organic Nutmeg Powder
· 3/4 tsp Clove Powder
FOR SERVING optional
· 1-1 1/2 tsp of Chai Mix
· 1 Tbsp maple syrup (or other sweetener to taste)
· 1 cup of blended Organic Coconut Milk
Instructions
1. To make the mix, add all spices to a small jar and shake or stir thoroughly to combine. Will keep at room temperature up to 3 months. Or you can store it in the refrigerator if you prefer. Double the recipe if you intend to use it daily (it goes fast!).
2. To make a hot chai latte, add a suggested amount of Chai Mix, sweetener of choice, and 2 tsp water to a mug (or small blender). Use a spoon to mix spices into water (or skip this step if blending). Then add warmed dairy-free milk of choice to your mug (or blender) and stir (or blend) to combine.