In my most recent post, “An unexpected love affair,” I alluded to my experiences whilst on vacation, most particularly with the people we came to meet in various islands of the Southern Caribbean. While I admitted in that post that Puerto Rico was our most loved island of the trip, I also admitted that Grenada and Barbados left a very sweet impression on my soul. The joy, the energy and the creative spirits of the people in Grenada and Barbados made us feel welcomed and I was inspired by their lifestyle and simple nature to succeed in life and to find contentment, oftentimes despite a lack of resources and wealth.
I was particularly impressed by the Grenadian people’s ability to “live off the land” and export much of the world’s spices, despite their poverty. During our visit there, we attended a tour of a spice plantation and a nutmeg factory. We were struck by their very simple, yet effective, means of hand-collecting, sorting and packing spices … particularly nutmeg. There were no motors or machinery, just wooden sorting boxes and human hands. And yet they export a large portion of the world’s top spices around the globe.
We learned through our tour guide, that much like the natives in the US, the people of Grenada have learned to make use of every part of a plant and do not waste. In addition to the actual nutmeg seed that we use here in the states, in Grenada, the outer shell of the nutmeg seed is used for coal to build a fire. The red, fibrous wrap around the seed, called “mace” is removed, dried and used for cooking (thus deriving two spices from the same tree). And oil extracted from the leaves and bark is used for homeopathic remedies. The same is done for every plant on the island. What they harvest, they use in its entirety.
Grenadians literally have a plant-cure for everything. In the case of nutmeg, it is used to treat insomnia, promote digestion, relieve pain, and its antibacterial components are said to promote good oral health as well as detoxify the body. ( A quick internet search will explain the chemistry behind each of these uses.) In many Grenadian stands and store fronts, they sell the whole and the ground varieties of spices as well as the oil extracts. They believe very much in their benefits and pride themselves in their overall health as a nation. “We don’t use medicine”, they will tell you, “we don’t have to…” “this is natural, and it works.”
And because they believe in the natural properties of these plants and spices, they include them in many more foods them we traditionally would, here in the states. For instance, I found “Banana ketchup, flavored with nutmeg” and semi-sweet chocolate bars “60% cocoa, flavored with nutmeg”. I bought them both and they’re delicious – not over-powering or awkward tasting…just good!
But my favorite food by which to add nutmeg is a tropical cocktail called,
“The Painkiller”®
We were first introduced to “The Painkiller” in St.Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and I was struck by its unusual, yet amazingly delicious pairing with coconut and other tropical juices. It is fuller and more complex than the over-used rum runner, lighter than the piña colada and if made correctly, still packs a good punch with that Caribbean-West Indie rum.
Upon returning home, I rushed to look up the recipe.
A google search has taught me that this now infamous cocktail of the Caribbean was first created by the owner of a tiny, waterfront bar in the British Virgin Islands, and then modified and trademarked by the founder of Pusser rum. Therefore legally I have to list Pusser rum as the rum used in this recipe. However, as I am not selling this drink or making money off this blog, I can tell you that I swapped out the rum for the dark rum I bought in Puerto Rico, as you could any dark rum you have in the house and it was just as delicious.
The Painkiller®
- 4 parts pineapple juice
- 1 part fresh orange juice
- 1 part cream of coconut
- 2 parts Pusser’s dark rum*
Shake and serve over ice with a pineapple wedge. Sprinkle nutmeg over the top (even better if it’s freshly grated).
Perhaps its the nutmeg’s natural pain-relieving qualities or perhaps it’s the rum that gives this drink its signature name. Whatever is paining you, be it physical or spiritual, I suggest you try this tropical cocktail. If the spice and the alcohol don’t take your woes away, the flavor will certainly transport you to a tropical island. Close your eyes, hear the waves, feel the breeze, and bury your worries away.
With a land so full of trees bearing these sweet fruits and powerful spices, century-old rum making techniques and the tenacity to “make-do”, it’s no wonder the people on these islands are happy 🙂
