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Grenada is known as the Spice Island and is famous world wide for its nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and allspice. The spices are exported to many countries for use in patent medicines, top restaurants and beauty products around the world.
Mace Fresh mace is the bright red netlike and wrapped around a dark brown and brittle shell within which is a single aromatic seed. |
On drying it changes from red to yellowish orange. Mace whole or ground is in used in seasoning soups, sauces, stews, pickles etc., Powdered mace sprinkled on cooked cabbage masks the sulphur odour.
Bay leaf
This aromatic leaf is used in stews, spices, vinegars, soups, gravies, savoury rice, salad dressing, poultry, pork, fish, marinades, pastas, condiments and porridges.
Cinnamon - Cinnamomum Verum
Cinnamon bark whole or ground is a popular household spice internationally. It is used to flavor beverages like hot chocolate, cocoa, alcoholic drinks and hot toddies with fruit juice. Used in baked foods, cakes, cookies, puddings, cereals, sweets, sauces, jams and jellies, pickles, relishes, vinegars, soups, gravies and mixed with tea or used alone as a spicy hot tea.
Turmeric – Grenadian Saffron
Curcuma domestica- The red rhizomes are used ground as a curry or in curry mixes, for colouring savoury rice dishes and potato dishes and in oil down. It gives an exotic colour and flavours to shell fish, fish and egg dishes. It can be used as a very good substitute for true saffron.
Nutmeg - Myristica fragrans
Nutmeg is one of the old, great spices. Both nutmeg and mace are the products of one fruit from the nutmeg tree. The fruit resembles a small peach or apricot. A pinch of grated nutmeg gives a delicious spicy flavor to cakes eggnogs, milk drinks, rum punches, spiced hot wines, puddings, and custards, salads, lamb and sweet sauces. Nutmeg is a great topping for cheese dishes and a secret ingredient in barbeque sauces.
Allspice Pimento - Pimenta dioica
This tree is indigenous to the Caribbean islands. The name Pimento originated from the Spanish word "pimienta" meaning pepper or peppercorn. The seeds are aromatic and is used whole or ground for flavoring marinades, pickles stews, hot tea etc.
Clove - Syzgium aromaticum
This dried flavoured flower bud, whole or ground is used at home to season hams, sausages, meats, mincemeat pies, fish, turtle, preserves and pickles. Also used in condiments, relishes, gravies, soups, sauces. It adds a subtle flavor to sorrel drink and alcoholic drinks. Clove in a aching tooth helps ease the pain.
Some Grenadian spice specialties
Nutmeg syrup: This is traditional syrup of the Spice Island wherein the juice of the nutmeg pericarp is mixed with sugar and water in the preparation. This syrup is poured over ice cream, pancakes, fruit salad or even sweet and sour pork and barbeque chicken. This can be mixed with club soda or milk to create shakes and fizzes.
Nutmeg oil: This is very good for arthritis, rub on joints, other aches and pains.
Spice Soaps: Soaps are hand made in the traditional Caribbean way with cinnamon, coconut, vanilla, clove or nutmeg and West Indian coconut oil. The soaps are pure and high in glycerin content.
Scented spice candles: The candles are scented with cinnamon or vanilla.
