Sri Lankan Nutmeg & Mace · Myristica fragrans
Nutmeg & Macetwo spices from one fruit.
Sri Lankan nutmeg and mace for buyers sourcing whole nutmeg, ground nutmeg or dried mace — with the seed and aril specified separately, then matched to analytical, food-safety, packing and destination requirements.
A buyer-focused route that keeps nutmeg and mace commercially distinct while using one botanical origin and a clear evidence path to quotation.
01 · Separate the product
Seed and aril.Different commercial briefs.
Nutmeg and mace come from the same fruit, but they are different spices. Start the enquiry by stating which product and form you need.
Whole nutmeg
Dried nutmeg seed supplied whole, either in-shell or shelled depending on the requirement. Sizing, shell status, defects, moisture, volatile oil and cleanliness can be specified.
Ground nutmeg
Ground or powdered nutmeg is produced from the seed. Grind, particle size, moisture, volatile oil, food-safety controls and barrier packaging become central to the brief.
Mace
Mace is the dried aril that surrounds the nutmeg seed. It is a separate spice and should have its own form, quality, analytical and packing requirements rather than being treated as nutmeg.
Styles guide the specification. Current source and lot availability is confirmed against the enquiry.
02 · Botanical relationship
One fruit.Two distinct spices.
Nutmeg is the seed. Mace is the aril that wraps around that seed inside the fruit of Myristica fragrans Houtt.
Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board presents Nutmeg & Mace together as an established spice category, but a buyer specification should keep the two materials separate from the start.
EDB · Ceylon Nutmeg & Mace
03 · Codex nutmeg reference
Nutmeg seedhas measurable style limits.
Codex CXS 352-2022 applies to dried nutmeg seed. The chemical table below covers shelled whole, broken and ground or powdered nutmeg; mace is handled separately.
| Nutmeg style | Moisture max | Total ash max | Acid-insoluble ash max | Water-insoluble ash max | Volatile oil min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole shelled nutmeg | 10.0% | 3.0% | 0.5% | 1.5% | 6.5 ml/100 g |
| Broken nutmeg | 10.0% | 3.0% | 0.5% | 1.5% | 6.0 ml/100 g |
| Ground / powdered nutmeg | 8.0% | 3.0% | 0.5% | 1.5% | 5.0 ml/100 g |
Codex values shown here are buyer references for nutmeg seed, not a claim that a current CeyLanka lot already conforms. Mace is not folded into the Codex nutmeg table.
Codex CXS 352-202204 · Product control
Nutmeg and macemust stay distinct.
They share a botanical source, but seed and aril differ in form, handling, analytical expectations and buyer application.
Whole, broken and ground styles need separate controls.
Define shell status, sizing or breakage, moisture, volatile oil, ash, defects, aflatoxin requirements and any grind or particle-size requirement.
Mace is not simply another nutmeg grade.
Specify mace as its own material: whole or pieces, physical quality, moisture, volatile oil, food-safety controls, packing and the test evidence required.
05 · Buyer specification
Build the briefbefore the quote.
Turn “Nutmeg & Mace” into separate, measurable requirements that the source, processor, laboratory and logistics route can be checked against.
Product & style
State nutmeg or mace first. For nutmeg, specify in-shell, shelled, broken or ground. For mace, specify whole blades, pieces or ground form as required.
Physical quality
Define shell status, whole or broken presentation, visible defects, foreign or extraneous matter, particle size and any product-specific acceptance criteria.
Analytical criteria
Where relevant, specify moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, volatile oil and any additional analytical requirement with the intended test method.
Food-safety controls
Set microbiological, pathogen, aflatoxin, pesticide-residue, heavy-metal, treatment or contaminant requirements relevant to the buyer and destination.
Packing & logistics
Specify unit weight, inner liner or barrier, bulk or retail format, destination, delivery window and Incoterm or named place if known.
Evidence & documents
List any CoA, laboratory result, traceability, origin, treatment, inspection or buyer-specific documents required for the supply route.
SLSI lists the current Nutmeg and Mace standard under SLS 113.
Physical requirements, particle size, moisture, ash, volatile oil, broken pieces and aflatoxins are listed test capabilities.
Dried Myristica fragrans seed: in-shell, shelled, broken and ground/powdered nutmeg.
Hygiene, microbiological and contaminant requirements should be matched to product, buyer and destination.
Trade classification: EDB separates nutmeg from mace and separates neither-crushed-nor-ground from crushed/ground forms. Nutmeg appears under 09.08.11/09.08.12 and mace under 09.08.21.00/09.08.22.00. Final declaration classification remains shipment-specific.
EDB HS-code reference06 · From enquiry to quote
Separate first.Verify before promise.
A quotation is built from the actual nutmeg or mace style, source, sample or lot evidence and route that can support the buyer requirement.
- 01Separate
Identify nutmeg or mace and the exact product style required.
- 02Specify
Set physical, analytical, food-safety, quantity, pack and destination requirements.
- 03Verify
Check source, sample or lot quality, test results, traceability and documents.
- 04Route
Resolve destination controls, packing, logistics and commercial terms.
- 05Quote
Build the quotation from the verified nutmeg or mace requirement and route.
Tell us whether you need nutmeg, mace or both, then include form, analytical or food-safety requirements, quantity, pack, destination and required documents.
Request Nutmeg & Mace Quote07 · Buyer questions
Useful answersbefore you enquire.
What is the difference between nutmeg and mace?
Both come from Myristica fragrans, but nutmeg is the seed while mace is the aril that surrounds the seed. They are separate spices and should be specified separately in an RFQ.
What nutmeg styles does Codex recognise?
Codex CXS 352-2022 recognises whole in-shell nutmeg, whole shelled nutmeg, broken seed and ground or powdered seed. Particle size for ground nutmeg is determined by agreement between buyer and seller.
Does the Codex nutmeg standard also cover mace?
No. CXS 352-2022 is a dried-seed standard for nutmeg. Mace is the aril, so its commercial specification should be handled separately using the applicable Sri Lankan standard, test plan and buyer requirements.
Which Sri Lankan standard is relevant to nutmeg and mace?
SLSI lists SLS 113:2019 as the current Sri Lanka Standard for Nutmeg and Mace. SLSI's food laboratory also lists testing for nutmeg and mace across whole, pieces or ground forms.
What testing can matter for Sri Lankan nutmeg and mace?
SLSI lists physical requirements, particle size, moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, volatile oil, broken pieces, total aflatoxins and aflatoxin B1 among available test parameters under SLS 113.
What should I include in a Nutmeg & Mace RFQ?
State whether you need nutmeg, mace or both, then define the form, physical and analytical requirements, quantity, packing, destination and intended use. Add food-safety, treatment, traceability or Incoterm requirements where relevant.
Ground nutmeg reference image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0 / Public Domain .
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