Zanzibar Spice Farm & Cooking Class: Is It Worth It?

Thinking of visiting a spice farm and doing a cooking class in Zanzibar? So you are probably curious if it actually lives up to the hype? Well, it is like your in for a real treat for your senses and stomach too. These tours are super top attractions, you see, so you should expect to learn about a heap of spices and how they, kind of, are part of Zanzibar’s soul and cuisine. I went on one that tossed in lunch, that is, so let me tell you all about what happened and what I thought. You know?

What to Expect on a Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour

A spice farm tour? That is going to be much more than just, kind of, wandering around some plants, that I can tell you. From the moment you turn up, you are, just a little, engulfed in smells. Really! Your guide then? They’re, like, a walking spice encyclopedia! I mean, is that really their whole lives! They will pick leaves, roots, and fruits off the plants and they let you sniff, crush, and taste basically everything. We, often, had a real good laugh trying to guess what stuff was. Plus, as I was saying, some tours often include these, sort of, performances too. You might see guys climbing palm trees singing Swahili songs. That’s actually, kind of, amazing. We took a bunch of photos too, of course.

Each farm is going to vary a tiny bit, yet you might typically encounter stuff, that is, such as:

• Cloves
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon
• Vanilla
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Lemongrass
• Cardamom
• Chili
• Black Pepper
• Annatto
• Cocoa
• Coffee
• And a bunch more, alright.

Is that crazy? We, seemingly, got a goodie bag of spices at the finish, which was, perhaps, really a gift.

The Cooking Class Experience

Now, let’s turn to my favorite part: the cooking class, very! After the spice tour? Basically you, yet, get a total understanding of the materials you are using. The cooking class gives you, arguably, the chance to use those ingredients and to concoct some, seriously, wonderful Zanzibar dishes. Now, the atmosphere’s friendly, is that so, plus usually hands-on. Often they will show you, at first, how to grind spices using a giant mortar and pestle – this actually can be really harder than it sounds! After that, with that said, the chef usually explains the recipes. That could be, might be, anything from making a spiced coconut sauce to creating a whole fish in a delicious curry.

Everyone, seemingly, will be involved in the preparation, in that case. A bit of chopping veggies, maybe a little stirring, then a lot of tasting and tweaking of flavorings. This is how I made some, honestly, brand new cooking buddies. Then you can chill with other people there, you see, especially with the common love of food.

We probably made the following:

• Pilau Rice
• Spice Coconut Fish Curry
• Spinach in Peanut Sauce
• Various toppings, chutneys, then salads, actually

Lunch is Included! But What Does That Really Mean?

Lunch! Well, alright. This could well be, that is, the highlight for some, clearly. Lunch, very often, follows the cooking class, and you, basically, get to tuck into all you’ve helped make. When you have, too, Zanzibar style.

So lunch is far from a quick bite. Its actually, might be, this super big feast arranged buffet-style. You can, arguably, go up to your hearts content, really sampling all you did. The flavors can, literally, be amazing – especially after that hard job grinding those spices. I ate way way to much myself. I did get offered local fruits I never saw! We are talking jackfruit and rambutan, or, seemingly, things I had never heard of. Also it can all, at times, be outside surrounded by that gorgeous spice farm setting! The ideal atmosphere.

Is It Worth It? My Personal Verdict

So? Was this tour something awesome or something you would rather forget, you know? Okay! Basically? I’m telling you that I would totally advise it to anyone, for instance. It gave me more than, sort of, what I had assumed about how spices form such a big part in Zanzibar culture and everyday routine. In short you go beyond the resort beaches plus get stuck into true Zanzibar, often.

The good stuff, very much, include:

• Hands-on! (that is to say you aren’t simply watching), clearly
• A fun means for figuring about, or, the regional spices, basically
• In all honesty lunch, usually
• A potential to make genuine pals, naturally
• Sensory stuff, that is, scents then styles aplenty, finally

Just a bit for thinking before scheduling?

• The tour can, at times, feel ‘touristy’ on some farms (that is, do just a bit of research) , actually
• Tipping’s usually considered usual (make it an integral part, or, you own, cost, literally)
• You may acquire much more spice gifts you can easily use at home (prepare for it!).

And finally I will say you need not be a foodie. If you want one unforgettable immersion on a exotic planet, basically go. Actually. With great individuals.

All those smells, those styles then flavor, but even, the warm from others there really did stay, at the end of the day, after a few months. Yup – definitely would repeat.