Nutmeg was once so valuable that countries went to war over it. In the 17th century, the Dutch traded the island of Manhattan to the British in exchange for a small, nutmeg-rich island called Run in Indonesia. At the time, nutmeg was believed to be a cure for the plague. Interestingly, nutmeg and mace come from the same fruit. Nutmeg is the inner seed, while mace is the bright red, lacy covering (aril) that surrounds the seed. If consumed in very large quantities (several whole seeds), nutmeg can be psychoactive due to a compound called myristicin, though in everyday cooking amounts, it is perfectly safe.