SPICE PLANTATIONS

About

Spice Plantations (Spice Farm Tour)

3 Hours 5 Stars

Overview

Zanzibar is also known as "Spice Island" for its major production and exporting of spice such as Turmeric, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Black Peppers, Cloves, Nutmegs, and so on for centuries. Spice plantations also had herb plants such as neem trees, red sap and various fruits such as jack fruit, custard apple, rambutan, and carambola. Zanzibar dealt with spices and herbs since the 15th century under the rule of the Sultan of Kilwa. Other popular spices include tamarind, vanilla, ginger, and menthol, to mention just a few. Most spices were introduced by the Omani Arabs and other nations in the 18th century, spices play an important role in the history of Zanzibari culture and the economy. Spices led to the famous acknowledgement of Zanzibar making it a popular market in the Indian ocean and later led to slavery. Till today spices are very important to Zanzibar's economy and used by the locals daily in various ways.

Since this is a guided tour you can expect a detailed and interesting explanation from our guide about these spices and herb plants, including what they are used for, how they are grown and so on. Most spices are used to add flavors and essential ingredients in Swahili foods others are used to preserve foods and so on. Majority of spices are exported bringing revenue to the people. Some are used as fragments and perfumes for their wonderful scents. Some are even used as remedies, such as the leaves of the neem tree which were found to be very helpful against indigestion and malaria, or the red sap from the iodine tree that helps to fight against infections. Others were used for cosmetic purposes, such as the foaming berries that were used for centuries as an alternative to soap and the cloves from the henna tree that are used to produce dye for the hands and feet while others are used as pesticides. During this tour you may also have the opportunity of getting a piece of body art made on you. This is carried out by using quick drying Indian ink, instead of henna, which takes longer to dry. You could also see a coconut climber how fearlessly they climb these tall and thin tress, among various other unique scenes that can only be experienced in a spice plantation.

Most Famous Spices

Zanzibar’s Spices

Turmeric

Cloves

Nutmegs

Cinnamon

Black Peppers

Cardamom

Witness, taste and smell different spices that are grown in Zanzibar Islands, take a cooking class of some of the most famous Swahili foods and practically learn about their usage in the daily locals lives. Witness the production of dyes and hennas used for decorating festivals and weddings as cosmetics. You can also get make up and see how beautiful you will look with the local Swahili cosmetics on. Explore through villages and spice plantations as spice-farm workers climb trees, seek out specific plants and cut off bark, letting you see, feel and taste everything. You will be decorated with palm-leaf accessories such as ties, rings, bracelets and glasses. You will also have an opportunity to taste some of the exotic fruits of Zanzibar.

The best time to visit the spice plantations and enjoy it the best is starting noon to 5PM evening. Zanzibar is quite intriguing as you will never have heard or seen some of the spices and herbs before, let alone tasted them. At the end of this tour, you will have lunch at our traditional local restaurant being served one of the most famous and loved spicy Swahili dishes called (pilau) nation’s most favorite food with fruits and you will also be able to do spice shopping too.

Highlights

Witness, taste, smell and learn about spices by visiting spice plantations and get amused, when you see spices such as cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, nutmeg, and turmeric root growing in the plantations, it’s easy to see why Zanzibar is known as The Spice Island. Taste some of the unusual fruits that are grown here too, such as jack fruit, custard apple, rambutan, and carambola. Henna bush, lipstick tree, and lemongrass are some of the plants found here too mostly used for decorating festivals and weddings as cosmetics. The tour is not only to witness spices, which look very different in their natural state to the way they look in the supermarket back home. But we want to share the knowledge about their history to making Zanzibar famous and their uses as herbs and essential ingredients in traditional Swahili foods. We have prepared a cooking class where you will learn how to make some of the Swahili most famous and loved dishes using these spices. Also you will have lunch served at our local restaurant enjoying the taste in spicy Swahili foods.

Things To Do

Spice Tour Experiences

Spices' History

Witness Spice Farms

Cooking Class

Smell and Taste Spices

Tropical Fruits

Swahili Food Lunch

Slave Trade History

Learn Swahili Culture

Our guide will provide you with in-depth information not only about spices, but also organically grown herbs and detailed descriptions about their uses in traditional dishes, as cures for ailments and even for dyeing traditional ceremonial outfits for weddings and festivals.

Jhat Tours & Safaris Co. Ltd

Why Choose Us?

We wil povide you a stree free experience exploring Zanzibar and Tanzania. We provide tour packages that cover all required services for your trip and we will take care of you from your arrival to the day of departure at a price that won't jeopardise the quailty of services we provide.

We love and are to passionate of what we do, we will comfort you and take care of anything that bothers you to let you have a stress free experiences. Come as a guest and join our family cause we will make unforgettable memmories together.

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