Mace powder, also known as ground mace is a brown-coloured, fine powder. It has a spicy taste, but subtler and more delicate than nutmeg. Its strong aroma is a combination of pepper and cinnamon and it therefore sometimes used in recipes instead of pepper. To make mace powder, first clean and roast the whole mace in a hot pan to release the moisture entirely and to make it crisp. Cool it. Now gently grind it in a grinder. If required, sieve it to get a smooth and uniform powder. Store it in a glass bottle and lid tightly when not in use. Always add it at the beginning of the cooking, so that the flavour from its essential oils builds up properly.