Tour Overview

SPICE TOUR ½ DAY

Spice farms on Zanzibar are not generally commercial growing operations with single species cultivation, but rather gardens with trees, shrubs and grasses all grown together in the shade of mango and jackfruit trees. It can be quite surprising to see the range of different plants from which spices are obtained, and the different methods by which they are extracted.

The popularity of spices has its origin in ancient times when one of the most common means of preserving food was that of drying it, especially meat and fish. Spices were needed in order to add flavor to meals, and in this way turned into a major trade as most spices grew only in South-East Asia. When the Omani Arabs made Zanzibar part of the Sultanate of Oman, they assumed that the climate in Zanzibar would be favorable to spice plants and decided, instead of importing spices from South-East Asia at very high cost, to try and grow them in Zanzibar. The experiment turned into a large success – although unfortunately at the cost of nearly all original rain forests on the islands.

Especially the cloves became famous – in particular those grown on Pemba – but also other spices grew, such as vanilla (which, not being an indigenous plant, up to this day has to be pollinated by hand!), turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon and many others.

On this half-day tour through our chosen spice farm you will not only find out how different spices grow and from which part of the plant they are made, but also that all spice plants are medicinal plants, as well. Our specialized guide Mr. Said is a professional herbalist, who has extensive knowledge of the healing properties of spices and fruits and has successfully proved it (from a simple flu to conceiving problems…).