Tree Nutmeg

Mr. Bakari Mataka, he is the chairman of the Daya farmer community in Zanzibar joined 1001 Organic at the start of 2012 where he helped us to get in touch with many other farmers. He is also a very proud father of 9 kids.

The nutmeg tree is an evergreen tree reaching up to 10 meters tall with alternate leaves of dark green. Ripe fruit is creamy yellow with tinges of red, and cracks open when ripe to reveal the internal seed covered in a bright red aril which is peeled off and ground for mace. Even though it's called Nutmeg it is the seed of the Nutmeg fruit only.

Ripe fruits are picked and taken apart to separate them from the seed (nutmeg). Nutmeg is then dried up fruits are opened by hand and mace surrounding the nut is removed. This is removed by cutting with a small pointed knife the attachment of the mace to the base of the nutmeg. Our farmers are on the island of Zanzibar only.