Hello, I'm an expert in spices and culinary history. Let's dive into the differences between mace and nutmeg.

Mace and nutmeg are not the same; they are both spices derived from the same fruit, but they are different parts of that fruit and have distinct flavors and uses.

Nutmeg is the seed of the fruit from the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans), and it is the hard, woody seed that you often see whole or ground up in a spice jar. It has a warm, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor that is quite distinctive.

Mace, on the other hand, is the lacy, reddish covering or aril that surrounds the nutmeg seed within the fruit. It is often sold ground or as a whole lacy shell. Mace has a flavor that is similar to nutmeg but is slightly more delicate and less intense.

In summary, while they are related and come from the same source, mace and nutmeg are not the same and are used differently in cooking.

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Nutmeg is one flavor and mace is the other, made from grinding the lacy outer covering surrounding the nutmeg. The nutmeg tree is an evergreen native to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, near Indonesia.read more >>