For the most fragrant nutmeg for your recipes, freshly grate from whole nutmeg as needed. McCormick Gourmet Organic Whole Nutmeg lends its sweetness and warmth to eggnog, custards, cookies and spice cakes. Nutmeg is the seed of the fleshy fruit of an evergreen tree native to the Moluccas, once known as the Spice Islands. Nutmeg’s spicy-sweet flavor is traditional in gingerbread, pumpkin pie, rice pudding and holiday beverages. It’s also the subtle taste in savory creamy dishes, including scalloped potatoes, creamed spinach and béchamel sauce. An important spice on the historical spice routes, nutmeg appears in cuisines around the world, from Indian curries to Swedish meatballs, Middle Eastern lamb dishes and Jamaican jerk seasoning.