Spice Islands

It is native to the Banda archipelago of islands in Indonesia, known as the Spice Islands, with Grenada in the Caribbean being the second largest producer.

The dried, ground spice found in most kitchen cabinets begins as the seed of the Myristica fragrans tree, indigenous to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia.

Magellan’s expedition for Spanish trade and imperialism opened a westward route from Europe to the Spice Islands, the Maluku archipelago in today’s Indonesia.

Magellan wanted to open a new route to the Spice Islands.

The Atlantic voyages of European mariners to the Americas, India and the Spice Islands — now the Maluku Islands of Indonesia — demanded re-engineered ships and growing expertise in celestial navigation.