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Tanzania
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Zanzibar Urban/West Region
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Urban
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Zanzibar City
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Tours & Activities
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Zanzibar Food and Spices Tour Including Traditional Swahili Lunch
4 h
Lunch
About this activity
Zanzibar has long been known as ‘Spice Island.’ This 4-hour, multisensory tour explores the island’s history in the spice trade. Take in the heady aromas and scents of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, chilis, vanilla, saffron and curry. The island also cultivates pineapples, jackfruits, lemons, limes, oranges, pomelos, durians and coconuts.
The tour offers an off-the-beaten-path tour to see a part of Zanzibar many travelers don’t witness. Meet your local guide at your Stone Town hotel, and then travel by air-conditioned minivan to a rural farming village. At a spice farm, learn about the history of Zanzibar’s relationship to spices and the spice trade. Taste seasonal spices and a variety of fresh fruits — weather permitting, you’ll even get to taste coconut straight from the tree!
Next, meet a cassava farmer, who will demonstrate typical African farming techniques. Then, learn how to prepare a traditional sauce with coconut milk and cassava leaves during a hands-on cooking lesson in the farmer’s outdoor kitchen. After the lesson, taste your sauce along with a traditional Swahili lunch including spiced rice, bananas and farm-fresh local vegetables.
At the end of the tour, you’ll head back to Stone Town.
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The tour offers an off-the-beaten-path tour to see a part of Zanzibar many travelers don’t witness. Meet your local guide at your Stone Town hotel, and then travel by air-conditioned minivan to a rural farming village. At a spice farm, learn about the history of Zanzibar’s relationship to spices and the spice trade. Taste seasonal spices and a variety of fresh fruits — weather permitting, you’ll even get to taste coconut straight from the tree!
Next, meet a cassava farmer, who will demonstrate typical African farming techniques. Then, learn how to prepare a traditional sauce with coconut milk and cassava leaves during a hands-on cooking lesson in the farmer’s outdoor kitchen. After the lesson, taste your sauce along with a traditional Swahili lunch including spiced rice, bananas and farm-fresh local vegetables.
At the end of the tour, you’ll head back to Stone Town.
Included
- Cooking Lesson
- Lunch
- Local guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Not included
- Gratuities
- All spices and other products
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Minimum age is 6 years
- Modest dress and good walking shoes are recommended
- Please note: itinerary may change during the month of Ramadan and on national holidays
- A maximum of 12 people per booking
Features
Tourism
90%
Cultural
80%
Original
45%
Reviews
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The tour itself was great- BUT: I was the only paticipant. I had a guide, an "assistant guide" (he made some presents) and a guy climbing up an coconut tree. All expected a tip/ I was asked to tip them!! Very disappointed!!
I enjoyed the spice tour a great deal. I didn't have lunch but I did enjoy going out into the field with two of the beautiful local women as they went about some of their chores. I appreciated the fact that they were so willing to allow me into their homes and share apart of their day with me.
The tour was a really amazing experience! You are really connected to the people, the village, the farm and the food. It was very interactive. Upon arrival we were greeted and immediately taken to the farm where we would pick our food for the cooking lesson. We were told how the Cassava plant grows and what parts are eaten. I assisted in picking only the red leaves as I was instructed. We returned to the village kitchen and sampled the root of the Cassava plant which is often eaten raw. Then the fun part began, the leaves were washed and put into a mortar and pestle and the pounding began. Onions, peppers and other seasonings were added to the leaves as a fresh coconut was being shelled right in front of us. It was grated and made into coconut milk, which was then added to the leaves. After a few minutes it was done...The fresh Cassava leaves were delicious! To participate in the preparation from start to finish was a very rewarding experience. Our Spice Tour was equally enjoyable and rewarding. We learned so very much about the many things grow there, their uses and the medicinal value. Our tour ended with a light lunch of a traditional Zanzibar food which consisted of Pilau, more Cassava leaves, vegetable curry, coconut bananas and a sampling of various teas and fruit. I would highly recommend this tour those of you who really want to get a Taste of Zanzibar!!!!!!
Very informative tour. From how those in the village cooking demonstration was great. The Spice FarmvTour was fun and informative. I learned a lot.
Very entertaining excursion. The folks were knowledgeable, kind, great cooks and shared a very close up experience with the folks in the country side.....AWESOME