Mace is the lacy red aril that develops around the seed of the nutmeg tree. It’s dried and ground or grated and added to flavor a whole host of things—canned meats, puddings, cakes and pies, pickles, and even omelets. It has a uniquely sharp, floral, spicy flavor that helps cut through rich dishes and adds dimension.

Mace is like orange and clove mixed, but a bit of cayenne pepper and cinnamon are thrown in the mix. It’s the spice you want to add to any food when you want it to be extra delicious. It’s incredible how many people don’t know this spice even exists! So if you want to know more about this life-changing spice, here’s what you should know.

Where to Find Mace

Mace is available in most grocery stores and spice shops. You can find ground mace in many traditional baking supplies. You’ll usually find it sold with other spices.

When Is It Best to Use Mace?

Mace is best when you want to add a bit of kick to a sweet dish without overpowering it. Because it has a floral, zesty quality, it pairs nicely with other sweet elements, like cream, sugar, fruits, and vanilla. It’s also the spice to go to if you want to add a tropical flavor to a dish. It’s a charismatic flavor that, in the right amount, can add a lot of depth and a sense of luxury to any dish.

Mace is also best used in creamy dishes where the aril can be infused into the fat and help flavor it, like a cream sauce. It’s also great to add to baked goods like biscuits, bread, muffins, and creamy puddings. You may also sprinkle it on top of savory things, like beef stew, fried chicken, and mashed potatoes.

How to Use Ground Mace

Ground mace is one of those spices you don’t have to do much to. You can just sprinkle it on top of the food you want to flavor or add it to your spice blend for a bit of extra flavor.

You can also add it to a salt grinder to give it a bit of a kick or add it to a pepper grinder if you want to add some flavor to your black pepper.

How to Store Mace

Since mace has a high fat content, you should store it in a cool, dry place to keep it fresh. Stash it in a metal tin or a zippable plastic bag, and don’t store it next to any other spices, especially those with strong flavors and aromas.

How Long Does Mace Last?

If you store mace in a metal tin or a plastic bag, mace will last up to a year. If you keep it in a spice rack, it’ll last just a few months. The good thing is that mace is a spice you usually would like to add to your food, so you might even empty it before it goes bad.

Conclusion

Mace is one of the most underrated spices in the world. It’s a beautiful tiny red seed with a spicy kick and a fantastic floral quality. The next time you find yourself in the baking aisle of your local grocery store, head over to the baking supplies and snag a bag of ground mace, then start adding it to all your most treasured recipes. You’ll be amazed at all the flavor it adds to your favorite dishes.

Castle Foods is your quality importer, processor, and purveyor of spices, capsicums, herbs, and aromatics. If you are looking for ground mace, you can find one from our online store. Start upgrading your dishes with our spices today.