Can anyone identify this picture for me?
I took the picture below in a market in Luang Prabang in Laos. Noy tells me that this is "nutmeg - mak kand". I can't find any way to verify this and wonder if anyone can help. It doesn't look a lot like nutmeg to me, but maybe it is some local tree which they call nutmeg? I should be so grateful if someone could help me with the Latin name, the Lao name - or Vietnamese, Khmer or Thai if that is what they know. Sometimes I can verify things in other languages to get me back to the one I am working on!
By Foodlexi
on Feb 13, 2010 05:45 AM
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Perhaps it is mace? Mace is the lacy covering around the nutmeg.
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Thanks Janniecooks - I think that mace is generally red in colour when fresh, and as it is the aril of the seed, it takes the shape of the nutmeg. I was lucky to get quite a decent picture of some good fresh mace a while ago: http://www.whatamieating.com/mace.html
This woody stuff in this picture is very frustrating. It's probably some local stick that has a flavour slightly reminiscent of nutmeg, but I didn't get a chance to taste it - or even smell it. Lucky really. I did eat some *very* peculiar things in that market! Keep the ideas coming though - it's much appreciated!
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No way it's mace. as mentioed mace is an aril it sits on top of the nugmeg seed coat iside of which is the nutmeg itslef. the aril is in turn surrounded by the nutmeg fruit which looks a little like a big yellow skinned peach. They are not twigs
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Looks like it could be dried coriander with seeds. If you could send a close-up of seeds would be good. I tried but it pixellated out. Coriander is used in Lao cuisine.
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compare this image of dry (woody) coriander
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Many thanks Linden51, I think you might be right! I attach a detail from the image. What do you think?
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Only other possibility is cloves maybe. Can't tell how elongated the seeds are from photo. Anyway not sure that Lao would use cloves enough to justify their being a regular market stall item.
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On second thoughts think more likely coriander than clove. Seeds look more spherical than elongated.
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Plus cloves are flower buds off a small tree; they aren't placed like that on the stem
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It's definitely not coriander, because of the thickness of the twigs.
It looks like Myristica fragrans (a common nutmeg species) minus the leaves.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Koe...
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Ah..... This might be it Yummyrice, as originally Noy from Laos said that it was nutmeg. This is not nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) as I know it, which produces an apricot-sized fruit inside which is the nutmeg, wrapped in mace. But I think you are right...... Is this just twigs from the tree without the nutmeg we usually see, and do these small seedsf/died flower buds (I can see why Linden51 might have thought cloves!) carry the same sort of flavour do you know? I am deeply curious about this oddity and very grateful for everyone's help. Would these twigs/seeds be used for flavouring dishes?
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When still attached to the tree, those nutmeg flowers typically eventually become fleshy apricot-sized fruits with the nutmeg inside.
In the Lao language, the nutmeg flower and mace are called Dok Chan / Dawk Chan / Dok Jan / Dawk Jan.
Nutmeg flower:
http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/pictures/myri_40.jpg
Here's a recipe for Laotian Banana Rice Pudding (w/ Nutmeg):
http://hipcompass.com/2008/11/16/laot...
In Lao cuisine, mace/nutmeg is also used to make dishes such as Panang Pa (Laotian fish panang curry).
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You are completely wonderful! Can I call on you again if I have queries about Lao foods and dishes? I do still have a couple of queries. I am so grateful.
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Of course, just ask away. =)
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