A day of spices
Finally we did what all tourists (as opposed to residents) do when they visit Zanzibar. We went on a spice tour. Zanzibar is the Island of spices and the second biggest income after tourism is exports of cloves.
Jurgita’s colleague lives nearby one of such places. So we drove to the countryside, managed to find her house (luckily we picked up another of her colleagues on the way) and started a day with a spice coffee and walking around in the garden. Then we went to the farmland together with a guide. He was showing us how clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, pepper and many other spices which are essential ingredients of Zanzibarians everyday life grow.
Locally grown spices have been an important part of the island for a long time, and the areas they grow in are impressive. So is the knowledge that the many workers have.
Besides that, the tour was quite commercial… It was way too much attention and we understood immediately that’s all about the money…
First we were met by a guy in the middle of the forest selling overpriced soaps and perfumes made form spices. Then a guy came and started to make hats and jewelers from leaf. After that the same guy opened a fruit and started to put the color as make up on Jurgita. We were looking like clowns walking around in the farm (together with many other tourists :)
After the tour we went back to Jurgita’s colleague. While we were walking and looking at the spices, she cooked a fantastic pilau (very traditional Swahili food- rise, potatoes, meet and LOTS of different spices!). For desert we had some fruit from their garden and I think we have a new favorite now: jack-fruit.
It was a great day and local experience!
On our way to the spice-farm.
Jurgita with her favourite fruits.
Nutmeg: extremely nice and red.
Achiote aka – also known as the lipstick fruit.
Vanilla- sweet and tasty.
On spice-tour with one of Jurgitas coalleagues.
Climbing a tall palm with no security to get us a coconut.
