Since we are on the must-visit places in Balik Pulau, Pinang, let me introduce another stop which is at Nutmeg Factory, Balik Pulau. Upon stepping into this area, you will be greeted with cold nutmeg drinks.
Such a perfect moment especially when the weather was so hot! We quickly gulped in a few mini cups before we started our journey to understand about nutmeg. Lady boss was very kind and she explained to us tediously on what is nutmeg and the benefits of it. I learnt a lot from this place!
Some nutritional facts were shared on the board, allowing visitors like myself to know and understand about nutmeg. When I was younger, I remember that I came across this smell. Neither did I know that these familiar smell is actually from nutmeg.
A basket of nutmegs
In fact, there are two types of nutmegs. One is the male version and another one is female version. The ones that you see above are all female version where they have one line on the outer layer and it contains one seed only. Whereas the male version has two lines on the outer layer, more like a cross line and it contains two seeds. If you notice the empty nutmeg in the red basket, that is the male version.
Holla! This is the female nutmeg. The bright red skein located around the nutmeg seed is called as mace. Mace is usually used in cooking or act as a medicinal spice. Only mature female nutmeg has the bright red skein. The immature ones will have white skein only.
Comparison between the mature female nutmeg and young female nutmeg.
I know it sounds a bit weird on how I address it but somehow, with this kind of explaination, I trust that you will easily understand it :)
Look at the damage that I had brought to my pocket!
Thinking that I would rarely go to Balik Pulau, I had the kiasu mind and bought a few bottles of it. When we chatted further with the lady boss, she actually told us that she could courier to us if we needed to buy one. After all, many of her Singaporean clients did ask her to courier the nutmeg oil to them.
In total, nutmeg factory is quite an eye-opening experience as we rarely have the privilege to come across this precious nuts. Therefore, if you have the chance to visit this place, by all means, I suggest you to pay a visit there. After all, there is no entrance fee! Also, you get to trench your thirst with delicious nutmeg drink!
By the way, please don't expect that you will see machines on how they process the nutmeg. In reality, they bring the nuts to their workers who literally work from their own places. Once they have completed, that's where the owner will bring it back to this so-called factory and do the rest of the work. #jomcuba
Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory,
MK 3, 202A, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Kampung Sungai Pinang, 11000 Balik Pulau, Pinang.
Regards,
Foodiestravel
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