Why is Zanzibar called the Spice Island : The trade-driven economy of Zanzibar has always depended on spices. Due to the importance of its production of cloves, of which it once held the global leadership position, as well as nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper, Zanzibar is known as the “Spice Islands.” The islands of Zanzibar were formerly referred to as the Spice Islands because a variety of spices, including nutmeg, mace, and cloves, were produced there and could only be found there. This led to colonial interest from Europe in the 16th century.
Garlic, cocoa, and Chile were among the spices that the Portuguese and Chinese brought to the islands centuries ago. However, it was the Omani Sultan, Seyyid Said, who fully used the potential of Zanzibar’s tropical environment and extraordinarily fertile land after transferring the capital of his empire to Stone Town in 1840.
The less than 1,000 square mile archipelago became the world’s largest producer of cloves as a result of the Sultan’s control over the creation of clove farms on both public and private lands and his forced labor in growing and harvesting the crops among Zanzibar’s slave population.
Cloves were once valued not only for their flavor but also for their widespread use in curing and preserving meats long before the invention of the refrigerator. In Zanzibar’s past, they were exchanged like gold. While cloves continue to be the archipelago’s top domestic crop, other large suppliers like Indonesia and Madagascar have displaced their output.
However, as a result of this, Zanzibar has maintained its status as the world’s “Spice Islands,” a designation also held by Indonesia’s Maluku archipelago, which has grown to be a well-liked vacation spot for both foodies and eco-tourists. Today, spice farm plantations are still the top Zanzibar attractions and remain a vacationer’s delight. Zanzibar spice tours offer a thorough, in-depth exposure to the area’s rich botanical and cultural legacy as well as its sordid past as the primary port for the slave trade in the Great Lakes region.
The spice plantation farm tour is a spectacular place for tourists; groups are escorted through a farm from plant to plant, tasting seeds and berries and learning about their local histories; there is a fruit tasting at the end; one of the farm-boys shimmies up a tree to cut down coconuts, performing acrobatic feats of strength on his way up and down; and there is a spice museum at the end of the tour. There is also a market where you can buy dried spices to take home and use in your favorite Zanzibari dishes.
The loveliest thing about spices, other than seeing how they seem in their purest form, is knowing about their medicinal applications, which allow you to eat spices for therapeutic purposes. It is occasionally used for pain relief from mild discomforts like toothaches or menstrual cramps, as well as for digestive issues. What spices were grown and famous in Zanzibar?
CLOVES
It is the most widely used spice in Zanzibar, which used to be one of its main exporters but has since lost ground to Indonesia. It is known as the “King of Spices” and includes the food preservative eugenol, an oil. The islanders of old placed cloves into the space left by a removed tooth because they are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
CINNAMON
It is regarded as the Queen of Spices and weds Clove, the king. It is created from a tree’s bark. It is used to boost appetite or treat gastrointestinal issues.
CURRY
Traditional Ayurveda medicine values green curry leaves because they are said to have anti-diabetic qualities.
CARDAMOM
It can be smoked and chewed to serve as a breath freshener. Black and green cardamom are the two varieties of this spice. One of the most costly spices in the world, measured by weight, is green, Why is Zanzibar called the Spice Island
THE BUSH MINT
A variety of mint that grows as a bush and is mostly utilized for essential oils, whatever it sounds like
MACE AND NUTMEG
They share a common ancestor and are used similarly in cooking. Women were said to have more sex desire after consuming nutmeg. To make the spice, the red portion is baked in the sun and crushed.
GINGER
It is used to promote circulation and transport those experiencing nausea and gastrointestinal issues.
LEMONGRASS
Burning a candle in a room or house is a convenient way to deter mosquitoes.
PEPPER
The spice is a blooming fruit that grows on a vine and is known as a peppercorn when dried. Peppers come in a variety of colors, including red, green, black, and white, and are harvested at various stages of maturation on the plant, Why is Zanzibar called the Spice Island
TURMERIC
One of the most entertaining is a yellow food coloring tuber that leaves traces all over your hands. Used as an antiseptic in medicine.
COFFEE
Although not a significant producer of the caffeinated beverage, you can occasionally locate a coffee plant buried amid the fruit trees.
ALMOND
The ever-famous nut that was formerly dangerous to eat but has been used as bread for thousands of years to aid digestion.
ANNATTO
Similar to turmeric, the achiote tree’s fruit yields a reddish-orange pigment that is used to color meals.
BETEL
The leaves of a vine are chewed in several, predominantly South Asian nations. It produces a little heat and a brilliant red expectorate.
CACAO
It is a massive tree that produces the beans in convenient pods that may be harvested, dried, and roasted for a tasty snack.
HENNA
Henna is well known for being used to draw beautiful designs on skin, but it has also been used to try to induce natural miscarriages.
TEAK WOOD
One of the most well-known types of wood is brownish-red and is primarily found and shipped from Myanmar.
YLANG- YLANG
An attractive essential oil and aroma are produced from a climbing vine-based plant with gorgeous yellow blossoms. Zanzibar’s cultural and culinary influences are varied, which is part of what makes it so fascinating.
