A nutmeg grater, also called a nutmeg rasp, is a device used to grate a

nutmeg Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus ''Myristica''. ''Myristica fragrans'' (fragrant nutmeg or true nutmeg) is a dark-leaved evergreen tree cultivated for two spices derived from its fruit: nutmeg, from its seed, an ...

seed. Nutmeg graters are normally metal, cylindrical or half-cylindrical, the surface perforated with small rasped holes. The nutmeg is passed over the surface to grate. The grater may be combined with a compartment for storing the nutmeg seed between uses.Nutmeg Graters. CooksInfo.com. Published 18 February 2007. Updated 18 February 2007. Web. Retrieved 20 November 2012 from http://www.cooksinfo.com/nutmeg-graters In the late 17th century, nutmeg and nutmeg graters became associated with drinking

punch Punch commonly refers to: * Punch (combat), a strike made using the hand closed into a fist * Punch (drink), a wide assortment of drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice Punch may also refer to: Places * Pun ...

, at that time a fashionable alcoholic beverage. Through the 18th century, it was the fashion for men to carry nutmeg in a pocket-sized silver container equipped with a grater in order to add freshly grated nutmeg to punch. Nutmeg graters are a bartenders' tool, used for adding freshly grated nutmeg to hot toddies,

eggnog Eggnog (), historically also known as a milk punch or an egg milk punch when alcoholic beverages are added, is a rich, chilled, sweetened, dairy-based beverage. It is traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, and whipped egg white ...

s, and other drinks.

References

Food preparation utensils Bartending equipment {{bartending-stub