Post by Trade facilitator on Jun 18, 2021 13:07:39 GMT 1
How Can Nigerian Spices Producers Break Into The Nutmeg Export Market (Part 1)
Nutmeg is a type of spice made from Nutmeg tree; which is called Myristica Fragrans. The planting of the tree started mainly in Indonesia and produces two major and popular spices known as nutmeg and mace.
To prepare nutmeg for seasoning, the fresh nutmeg seeds are dried gradually in the sun over periods between six to eight weeks.
This period of drying allows the nutmeg to dry and then shrink out of its hard seed coat. It is then separated from the outer coat which is the Mace, and then can be packaged for either sales or grinding.
This product also grows in several other Caribbean Islands, India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.
There are also other species like, Myristica agentea (Papua) and Myristica malabarica (India).
Mace itself is a yellowish-brown spice that is derived from the dried lacy coating of the nutmeg seed.
This means that nutmeg is actually not only one spice, rather it is made up of two spices in one. Mace is derived from nutmeg fruit; it is actually the outer covering of the nutmeg seed.
Origin of Nutmeg
The botanical name for nutmeg is Myristica fragrans. The nutmeg tree originated from Banda, the largest island in the Molucca spice islands of Indonesia.
The English name nutmeg came from Latin nux, which means nut; and muscat, that means musky. But nutmeg is not a nut, rather it is a seed. Therefore, if you have nut allergy you can still take nutmeg despite the word nut appearing in the name.
Health benefits of Nutmeg
The benefits of nutmeg are many; it has the ability to relieve pain, soothes indigestion, and strengthens cognitive function.
It also has the capacity to detoxify the body, boost skin health, and alleviate oral conditions. Nutmeg reduces insomnia, increases the immune system function, prevents leukemia and improves blood circulation.
Nutmeg is rich in antioxidants, and this helps to protect against the signs of ageing and serious conditions such as cancer, liver disease and other heart conditions.
The spice is rich in fiber, and this helps to keep the digestive system healthy and thereby preventing blood sugar from spiking.
Nutmeg is very safe in small amounts and has the following nutrients per one (1) tablespoonful of serving:
Calories: 12
Protein: 0 grams
Fat: 1 gram
Carbohydrates: 1 gram
Sugar: 1 gram
Nutmeg is also a source of the following: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Manganese, Copper, Phosphorus, Zinc, and Iron.
Can it lower high blood pressure?
Yes, nutmeg has hypotensive abilities and therefore can help in managing hypertension. Knowing that the spice is rich in calcium, potassium, and magnesium; these properties are the ingredients used in managing high blood pressure.
How to break into the European nutmeg export market
Just like we have been saying in our past articles on how to break into the European market with our produce, product quality and safety issues are still key factors to be taken into consideration.
It will as usual be very important to look into the European legal requirements and terms of delivery between the buyer and the seller in any contract on export of nutmeg.
High-quality nutmeg should be rich in oil, whole, without stalk, and reddish brown in colour.
Packaging of the product
Nutmeg is usually packaged in new, clean, durable, and dry jute bags with cloth laminated polypropylene bags.
The crushed or ground nutmeg can be packed in new, clear, durable, and dry containers made of tin, glass, or in pouches made of laminated, extruded metalized multilayered-food-grade plastic.
Major importing countries of nutmeg
As at the year 2020, the five major importing countries of the world are:
China importing from Indonesia, value $32 million
United Arab Emirates importing from India, $8.4 million
Germany from Indonesia, $6.2 million
Japan importing from Indonesia, $3.9 million
Netherlands importing from Indonesia, $3.9 million
From the analysis above you can see that the market is highly dominated by Indonesia, with India coming a distant second. The issue is what can Nigerian farmers do to have a share of the nutmeg export market no matter how small as a starting point?
We will continue to look at ways Nigerian spices exporters can break into the lucrative market.
Stay with us. Do not forget that we conduct training for both export and import at our base. Call the admin for further details.
