Nutmeg as expensive as gold during 17th and 18 th century because it is only found in some parts of ASIA and it was very difficult to transport it to INDIA through sea routes because at that time their was no more modes of transports for long distance.
Why was nutmeg so valuable?
Nutmeg is expensive due to its production process and low yield per tree . ... Nutmeg simply seems more expensive because it comes in a small form – a seed barely an inch long and half an inch across. A little nutmeg goes a long way, so a single seed can last you a whole year, depending on how often you cook with it.
Why was nutmeg so popular in the 18th century?
Nutmeg gained a lot of popularity in the late 1500s as a treatment for plague , and became even trendier among European elites once they discovered its hallucinogenic properties (which are still a thing, according to The Atlantic). Also, spices were vanishingly rare back then, adding to the illusion of product scarcity.
Why spices were so expensive in 17th century?
At first, Europeans convinced themselves that spices in the west were so expensive because they were incredibly rare in the east . Just want to add here, that the Dutch East India company (the VOC) was founded because Dutch merchants found that those super expensive spices such as cloves, mace, etc.
Was nutmeg worth more than gold?
In the 17th century, nutmeg was worth more than its weight in gold . A ship safely returned with its hold full of spices could do for an able-bodied seaman back then what an options package at AOL does for an employee today. You were pretty much set for life.
Why is nutmeg banned in Saudi Arabia?
According to the Journal of Medical Toxicology, nutmeg can even cause fatal myristicin poisoning. For those reasons, Saudi Arabia considers nutmeg to be a narcotic, and since all narcotics are illegal , nutmeg is not allowed anywhere in the country, except as a minor ingredient in pre-mixed spice blends.
Can you grow nutmeg in the US?
Nutmeg hails from the Indonesian Islands, once called the Spice Islands. Nutmeg grows successfully in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 .
Is nutmeg made out of wood?
Although today we're primarily familiar with nutmeg as a powder that comes in little plastic bottles, it's actually the pit of the fruit of a tree native to the Banda Islands of Indonesia. In appearance, weight, and texture, nutmegs are very similar to wood . ...
Is wood a nutmeg?
Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus Myristica. Myristica fragrans (fragrant nutmeg or true nutmeg) is a dark -leaved evergreen tree cultivated for two spices derived from its fruit: nutmeg, from its seed, and mace, from the seed covering.
What nut is nutmeg from?
No ! Although the word nutmeg contains the word “nut,” it is not related to peanuts or tree nuts. It is a dried seed, which is ground to make a spice.
How much did a horse cost in medieval times?
A sumpter was a pack horse and cost anywhere between 5 and 10 shillings to buy. There were 12 pennies in a shilling, so a basic pack horse would cost our labourer 15 days' wages. A top of the range one would cost 30 days.
What was the most expensive spice in the Middle Ages?
More than half of all medieval English and French recipes call for saffron , the most costly of all medieval and modern spices (or herbs).
What spice was a luxury in the Middle Ages?
Pepper therefore obtained luxury status throughout medieval Europe, triggering a generalised fascination with spices and their exotic origins. A man's wealth was often measured by his pepper store in the Middle Ages.
Is pepper more valuable than gold?
Pepper was used by the Greeks, Romans and Chinese for medicinal purposes. In medieval times it was used as currency, at times worth more than gold or silver . And the pepper trade, with its substantial import duties, contributed mightily to the treasury of a fledgling United States in the early 19th century.
Who brought spices to America?
European explorers such as Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama, and Bartholomeu Dias began their long sea voyages to discover a sea route to the sources of spices. Christopher Columbus went westwards from Europe in 1492 to find a sea route to the lands of spices but found the Americas.
Who first used spices?
Spices and herbs such as black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, and cardamom have been used by Indians for thousands of years for both culinary and health purposes. Spices indigenous to India (such as cardamom and turmeric) were cultivated as early as the 8th century BC in the gardens of Babylon (2).
