Nutmeg and mace are both spices that are derived from the same plant, Myristica fragrans, which is native to Indonesia. While they come from the same plant, nutmeg and mace are actually two different parts of the plant.
Nutmeg is the seed of the plant, which is usually ground into a powder and used as a spice. Mace, on the other hand, is the outer covering of the nutmeg seed, which is removed and dried before being used as a spice.
In terms of flavor, nutmeg has a warm, sweet, and slightly spicy taste, while mace has a similar flavor but is slightly more delicate and aromatic. In terms of culinary use, nutmeg is often used in sweet dishes like pumpkin pie, while mace is often used in savory dishes like stews and curries.
While nutmeg and mace are different parts of the same plant, they do have their own unique flavors and culinary uses.