Why Is Zanzibar Called The Spice Islands?

Why Is Zanzibar Called The Spice Islands? Spices have long been essential to Zanzibar’s trade-driven economy. Zanzibar is referred to as the “Spice Islands” because of the significance of its production of cloves, of which it formerly possessed the world leadership position, as well as nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper. Because nutmeg, mace, and cloves were among the many spices that could only be found on the islands of Zanzibar, they were once known as the Spice Islands. In the sixteenth century, this sparked European interest in colonialism.

Among the spices that the Portuguese and Chinese brought to the islands centuries ago were garlic, cacao, and chilli. But after moving his empire’s seat to Stone Town in 1840, it was the Omani Sultan, Seyyid Said, who made the most of Zanzibar’s tropical climate and exceptionally fertile soil.

Due to the Sultan’s control over the establishment of clove farms on both public and private properties, as well as his use of the slave population in Zanzibar for forced labour in the growth and harvesting of the crops, the less than 1,000 square mile archipelago rose to become the world’s largest producer of cloves.
Long before the refrigerator was invented, cloves were prized for their flavor as well as their common application in curing and preserving foods. In the old days of Zanzibar, they were traded like gold. The main indigenous crop in the archipelago is still cloves, but production has been overtaken by other major suppliers like Madagascar and Indonesia.

But because of this, Zanzibar has continued to be known as the “Spice Islands” of the world, a title that is shared by Indonesia’s Maluku archipelago, which has become a popular tourism safari destination for foodies and eco-tourists alike. The biggest draws of Zanzibar even now are the spice farms, which continue to be a tourist haven. Spice tours in Zanzibar provide a comprehensive, in-depth look into the region’s rich botanical and cultural heritage in addition to its infamous history as the main port for the Great Lakes slave trade.

The spice plantation farm tour is an amazing safari experience for visitors; they are guided around the farm, sampling berries and seeds while learning about the local history of each plant; at the conclusion of the tour, they are treated to a fruit tasting; one of the farm boys performs amazing strength stunts as he climbs a tree to harvest coconuts; and there is a spice museum. You can also purchase dried spices in a market to use in your preferred Zanzibari recipes at home.

Aside from their aesthetic appeal in their purest form, the most delightful thing about spices is their medicinal applications, which let you use them as food for therapeutic purposes. On rare occasions, it is used to treat digestive problems and relieve minor discomforts like toothaches and menstrual cramps.

What spices were grown and famous in Zanzibar?

Cloves.
In Zanzibar, which was formerly one of its principal exporters but has since lost ground to Indonesia, it is the spice that is most frequently used. It is referred to as the “King of Spices” and contains the oil eugenol, which is used to preserve food. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of cloves led the ancient islanders to place them in the empty space left by a removed tooth.

Cinnamon.
It marries King Clove and is called the Queen of Spices. It is made from the bark of a tree. It is applied to alleviate gastrointestinal problems or increase appetite.

Curry.
Green curry leaves are prized in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for their purported anti-diabetic properties.

Cardamom.
It works as a breath refresher when chewed and smoked. There are two kinds of cardamom: green and black. Green is one of the priciest spices in the planet when weighed.

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 are utilized similarly in cooking and have a same ancestry. After nutmeg use, women were reported to have increased sex drive. The red part is crushed and baked in the sun to form the spice.

Ginger.
It helps those with gastrointestinal problems and nausea by promoting circulation and providing transportation.

Lemongrass.
Burning a candle in a room or house is a convenient way to deter mosquitoes.

Pepper.
The spice is actually a fruit that blooms on a vine and, when dried, is called a peppercorn. Peppers are collected at different stages of maturity on the plant and are available in a range of colours, including red, green, black, and white.

Turmeric.
A yellow food colouring tube that stains your hands completely is among the most amusing. used in medicine as an antiseptic.

Coffee.
Not much of a producer of the caffeinated beverage, but every now and then you can find a coffee plant hidden among the fruit trees.

Almond.
The renowned nut, which was once unsafe to consume, has been used for thousands of years as bread to facilitate digestion.

Annatto.
Similar to turmeric, the achiote tree’s fruit yields a reddish-orange pigment that is used to color meals.

Betel.
In several countries, mostly in South Asia, people chew vine leaves. It gives off a bright crimson expectorate and a small amount of heat.

Cacao.
The beans are produced by this enormous tree in handy pods that may be picked, dried, and roasted for a delicious 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.
Brownish-red wood, one of the most popular varieties, is mostly found in and exported from Myanmar.

Ylang- Ylang.
Gorgeous yellow blooms on a climbing vine-based plant yield an appealing essential oil and perfume. Zanzibar is fascinating in part because of its diverse cultural and gastronomic influences.