Nutmeg became the most popular spice of Indonesia, for the long story of this extraordinary spice had formed the history of this nation. The discussion of nutmeg can’t be separated from the Islands of Banda, the only nutmeg producer that made neighboring and even faraway countries came to Nusantara.

Today, the spice that was once used as a potion and preservative has spread and been planted in various areas in Indonesia. Nutmeg grows in different types and shapes, depending on the different geographical locations, soil condition, and air temperature when it’s planted.

There are at least three kinds of nutmegs, the oval nutmeg or the male, the round nutmeg or the female, and the hermaphrodite whose shape is similar to both the oval and round nutmegs. The distinction of oval and round nutmegs is seen since the fruit seeds start to appear. The seeds with a bulge similar to the horn on the edge will grow into the male nutmegs. Meanwhile, female nutmeg seeds tend to be flat on every side.

Until today, a lot of Bandanese depend on nutmeg as the main source of income, though there are people who choose another profession by becoming fishermen. It proves that within centuries, nutmeg is still close to the Bandanese, the history, and the fate of the people who live there.

Tracing the story of nutmeg in the past is incomplete without knowing how the Bandanese put nutmeg in everyday life. Let’s see through the eyes of a young lad who has left his hometown and wants to go back to once again raise the glorious era of Banda through its one of the crops.

Exploring Banda through Nutmeg. A collaborative video between the Directorate of Cultural Development and Utilization of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia and the Cultural Values Preservation Center of Maluku. Enjoy the video!