Hey Folks,

Can anyone tell me if nutmeg is a spice common to Kunming? If so, is it the same variety get back home?

Shyam

Nutmeg is not common here.
I checked a number of farmer markets, supermarkets and spice shops.

The only thing I found with some nutmeg in it was a little 5-spices bag at a convenience store.

Cinnamon, which is nearly identical in flavor is what you can find here easily. If you really need it I'd recommend getting it online :)

It can be bought, however, online as noted above. I got a 430g container on Taobao. If you find the right imported food stores you 'might' find some available on the shelf as well. But no, not commonly used in Chinese food.

I go to Thailand to buy it. Can't find it here.

As of late November, Metro was carrying bulk bags of whole nutmeg. Though it's probably more nutmeg than you'll use in a lifetime.

Double check Paul's, too. I could almost swear they have nutmeg there as well.

Thanks folks!

All of this confirms what I found. This past month, I focused on finding cinnamon...which I finally got ahold of. You're right, Silvio...it comes close. Still, I'm trying to find that "missing element" for French toast, eggnog, spiced cider, etc..

Ahhh...if only I had access to a centrifuge that could separate out 4 of the spices in 5 Spice. :)

Thanks again, friends.

i totally agree to Charlie-KM. Metro has nutmeg and i got 4 pieces in Pauls, this year. I would give you some, but i´m not in Kunming until next year. I´m pretty sure you´ll find it soon or later!!!

s.taobao.com/[...]

Taobao is so much ridiculously more awesome than spending a day running around battling Kunming traffic in a vain search for a product that may or may be in stock.

Ordering takes about 15 seconds if you've got everything set up right, so it wouldn't be a huge imposition on a Chinese friend to help you purchase.

Thanks Dan. But, how difficult is it for an English speaker to use Taobao...even with English translation? I can't read much Chinese. How critical is this?