Two new arrivals from 'Spice Island'

We’re thrilled to announce the introduction of two new single origin spices to our range:

Gold Nutmeg and Caribbean Bay Leaves, both from Grenada, the Caribbean island renowned for its spice production.

Our Gold Nutmeg

In keeping with our mission to only bring the best organic spices to your tables, we’ve selected the finest nutmeg from Grenada, the island that became famous all over the world for the quality of its nutmeg. Our sweet, intoxicating Grenada Gold Nutmeg is hand-picked at origin at the renowned Belmont Farm, a 17th century estate known for its organic farming practices and heritage. To create nutmeg as we know it in our kitchens, the seeds are dried in the sun over six to eight weeks. During this time, they shrink away from its hard seed coat (the mace). When ready, they are separated from the outer coverings. The result is a small ‘nut’ that you can grate to add that unique nutmeg flavour to your dishes: a mix of sweet, spicy, and slightly nutty taste.

How to cook with our Gold Nutmeg

Popularised by recipes like eggnog and pumpkin pie, nutmeg can be used in many other ways and certianly not just in baking. Grate with a microplane or grind in a spice grinder to add to baked goods, breakfast dishes and savoury stews: nutmeg in braised meat is a classic flavour combo. Nutmeg also pairs well with creamy sauces and cheesy dishes, such as bechamel, alfredo sauce, and soufflés, which benefit from the spice's subtle heat.

Try it with these nutmeg and black pepper popovers from Bon Appetit.

Our Caribbean Bay Leaves

Our sweet, warm, rich Caribbean Bay Leaves are hand-picked at origin at Belmont Estate on the island of Grenada. Not to be confused with the common bay laurel (Laurus nobilis, Lauraceae), our Caribbean Bay Leaves come from the West Indian bay tree (Pimenta racemosa, Myrtaceae) and have a more versitile use.

Known simply as "the spice tree" in some parts of the Caribbean, this large, towering tree is also known as "sweet bay" and the "bay rum tree." A species of plant in the myrtle family and related to allspice, it's found throughout the Caribbean. The tree needs plenty of sunshine and water to grow, so it's ideally suited to the climate. The leaves are available all year and are usually sold fresh simply because of their abundance, but they can also be dried and stored indefinitely (which is what we do).

Caribbean bay leaves are much more fragrant and aromatic than its Turkish, Indonesian, Californian, or Indian cousins. The flavour is intense and highly spiced, with complex notes of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg along with hints of vanilla and cardamom. If you rub the leaves, the distinctive scent will remain on your fingers for hours.

Our Caribbean Bay Leaves are another amazing spice from Shadel Nyack Compton Belmont Estate, a 17th-century working farm that serves as an agritourism destination an hour's drive from St. George, the capital of Grenada.

How to cook with our Caribbean Bay Leaves

This versatile ingredient adds depth and complexity to stews, curries and baked goods. It can be a substitute for standard bay leaves, cinnamon or nutmeg in any recipe. It's also very convenient for making marinades, rubs and blends, including classic jerk seasoning (of course!)

Try it with this lemon and West indian bay leaf creme caramel from Spice Trekkers.

About Belmont Farm

As all BoTree fans know, we have our own organic farm in Cambodia, where we make our award-winning Kampot seasonings. So we know what it takes to run an organic farm, how important ethical farming is and how it impacts the local community. So we were absoultely thrilled to be able to work with produce from Belmont Farm. Shadel Nyack Compton runs Belmont Estate, a 17th-century working farm that serves as an agritourism destination an hour's drive from St. George, the capital of Grenada. The family farm grows many spices using organic practices, and they also run a bean-to-bar chocolate shop, goat dairy farm, petting zoo, café, craft market and restaurant that serves traditional Grenadian cuisine. Shadel's vision is to package local, homegrown spices to a wider market and we’re proud to be able to help her with this!