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Nutmeg (Banda Islands)

Type Object Region Southeast Asia Time c. 1581–1590

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) grows wild only in Indonesia's Banda Islands; its seed (nutmeg) and aril (mace) were among the world's costliest spices i…

Timeline

  1. c. 1581–1584Banda Neira · MalukuThe volcanic soils of the Banda Islands suit nutmeg trees; seeds and mace are harvested when the fruit ripens, and local chiefs maintain a monopoly on production through planting quotas and harvest-season taboos.
  2. c. 1584–1587Banda Neira · MalukuPortugal stationed agents in Banda Neira to supervise the weighing and loading of nutmeg, signed supply contracts with Banda chiefs, and restricted the export of seedlings to maintain the species' geographic monopoly.
  3. c. 1587–1590Antwerp · BelgiumBanda nutmeg reached Antwerp and Venice via the Moluccas–Indian Ocean route, becoming a luxury commodity in European medicine and cooking priced by weight, and provoking British and Dutch penetration of the source region.

Sources