It’s that time of year when chefs and cooks around the world turn their minds to the Christmas cooking. Since Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings rely on the delicious spices originally brought back to Europe from Asia and Zanzibar, what better time to share some photos of the spices in their natural habitat in Zanzibar, once known as part of the Spice Islands.
You can compare the images with the spices listed in my Christmas cake recipe from my other blog.
Cardamom
While holidaying in Zanzibar, and en route to the north-eastern beach at Ras Nungwi, we did a spice tour. It was really fun as well as informative. The guys made it really enjoyable by testing our knowledge of the plants from smell and taste, and along the way made us hats, necklaces, dilly bags, and glasses.
Cloves, not yet ripened.
Peeling bark from the cinnamon tree.
Do you recognise any of these plants, or do you use them in your Christmas cooking? Each and every one is in my Christmas cake recipe but the star is….
Green peppercorns are picked and dried before they ripen.
Now where’s my Cointreau?
Mind you I find it somewhat ironic that all these spices, so integrally associated with Christmas, can be found on the largely Islamic island of Zanzibar.
The travellers in our Spice Farm accessories.
sounds great. Zanzibars spice tours are really interesting.
Yes we really enjoyed ourselves as you can see, especially as we love spicy food.
Great pictures and interesting story, we love spicy food in our house.
We certainly do too Maria. Thanks for visiting.
Ounce for ounce, spices must be one of the most profitable crops to grow!
hi Liz, yes they’re certainly worth a lot per ounce, especially things like saffron.