The Secret Story of Nutmeg - A hidden history
Mysteries and Histories of a seed that shaped the world.
Follow this hidden history podcast as we explore the mystery and history of the spice Nutmeg and the way it has shaped our world as we know it.
From the birth of capitalism to the discovery of MDMA, The Secret Story of Nutmeg will show you how this seed from the Myristica fragrans tree has played a role in human discovery, from major world-shaping events and mystic traditions to human evolution and our innermost self-development.
It will blow your mind.
Disclaimer
This podcast explores history, chemistry, cultural belief, and speculation.
It does not provide medical advice or advocate drug use.
Nutmeg contains the compound myristicin, which is not MDMA.
Historical medicinal claims reflect beliefs of their time, not modern science.
Some ideas presented are interpretive and are examined critically throughout the series.
The Secret Story of Nutmeg - A hidden history
Episode 1 - Nutmeg- Hidden in a jar at the back of history
Nutmeg, the spice of life... the source of empathy, its oils that can make MDMA, New York being swapped for the spice's source, its widespread uses, people carrying around nutmeg graters on their persons in the 17th and 1800's...
In the opening episode of The Secret Story of Nutmeg, filmmaker Andy DelVecchio begins an investigation into how a single seed—Myristica fragrans—helped shape global trade, empire, and belief. From plague cures and aphrodisiac lore to colonial monopolies enforced by violence, nutmeg’s true history is stranger than fiction.
The journey begins with a phone call… and a claim that sounds impossible: that nutmeg contains a compound chemically related to substances associated with empathy and altered states of consciousness. Not MDMA—but something structurally connected.
It was reason enough for filmmaker Andy to sink his teeth into the mysteries and hidden histories of a spice he never thought much about until now.
History & Empire
- Nathaniel’s Nutmeg by Giles Milton — https://www.gilesmilton.com/historybooks/nathaniels-nutmeg
- Nutmeg historical overview — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutmeg
Chemistry & Psychoactive Research
- Myristicin chemical overview — https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/.../myristicin
- Pharmacological potential of myristicin — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34641457/
- Myristicin summary & toxicity — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myristicin
Cultural & Material History
- Nutmeg graters (history & museum context) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutmeg_grater
- Nutmeg graters ( History and musuem context) - https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78420/nutmeg-grater-unknown/
- BBC Nutmeg: Nature’s Perfect Package (1983) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uLGqpg9TvE
Stay Tuned...this podcast covers seasons following Trade and empathy, Ecstasy and empathy, the empathy evolution of man and much, much more...it's going to be a wild ride
Disclaimer
This podcast explores history, chemistry, cultural belief, and speculation.
It does not provide medical advice or advocate drug use.
Nutmeg contains the compound myristicin, which is not MDMA.
Historical medicinal claims reflect beliefs of their time, not modern science.
Some ideas presented are interpretive and are examined critically throughout the series.