Zanzibar spice tour: what to expect
Zanzibar has been called the Spice Island for centuries. A spice tour takes you to a farm outside Stone Town to see, smell and taste how cloves, vanilla and cinnamon grow.
What happens
A guide walks you through a farm, pointing out plants and asking you to guess them by smell. You will see:
- Cloves, once Zanzibar’s main export
- Nutmeg and mace
- Cinnamon bark
- Vanilla vines
- Black pepper
- Lemongrass, ginger and turmeric
- Tropical fruits in season
Tours often end with a fruit tasting and a lunch cooked with spices.
How long
Half a day, including the drive from Stone Town (around 30 minutes).
Choosing a good tour
Ask for a smaller farm where the tour is part of a working farm. Private tours can be shaped around cooking or history.
Buying spices
Prices at farms are often higher than in Darajani Market, but the money goes straight to the farm. Check your home country’s rules on bringing plant products in.
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