Organic spices and our connection to Zanzibar

Simply put, our connection to the islands is organic spices!

But also, as a third culture kid who comes from a family of immigrants and has lived in several western countries – I understand the importance of maintaining ties with ‘back home’ which for me is Zanzibar. My own lived experiences allowed me to grow a sound interest in raising awareness of ongoing issues of social inequality for those that are situated ‘back home’ and my identity gave me access to working with the underrepresented and marginalised, those whose narratives have traditionally been rendered invisible, such as smallhold spice farmers in Zanzibar.

The history of organic spices in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is home to organic spices like nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper and many more. It is also known to have capitalised on its history of being called the ‘Spice Islands.’ When it was under Omani rule, trade was expanding and commerce was booming on the islands, placing it as the leading trade centre in East Africa. 

Here are a few fun facts about the Zanzibar spices:

1. Did you know that in 1832, Seyyid Said – the Omani Sultan – transferred the capital of his empire from Muscat to Stone Town just so he could cultivate cloves, which at that time was perceived to be as valuable as gold?

2. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, organic spices were also seen as a symbol of wealth since they could only be obtained from unknown lands far away and not everyone could access them. 

3. The use of organic spices is not only limited to food on the islands, it is also used for health benefits as well as beauty treatments.

4. Before the refrigerator was invented, organic spices such as cloves were used in the process of curing and preserving meats. 

Present day Zanzibar’s economy almost exclusively relies on tourism, and the current economic state of the islands prevents local farmers from exporting any of their products abroad which then forces them to sell locally at low, commodity prices. This has led to the demise of many organic spice farming traditions as well as a decrease in quality of life – all mainly caused by the 1964 revolution.

How is Ujamaa helping Zanzibar’s organic spice farmers?

As our name states, we are all about creating and strengthening bonds. We partner with smallhold farmers in Zanzibar and support them in accessing markets in the west. We are ensuring they are paid a premium price for their highly traceable, ethical and sustainably sourced spices which are not only delicious, but also good for health due to their organic nature and inflammatory properties.

By doing this, Ujamaa Spice is inevitably breaking from the traditional supply chain, decolonizing it from its roots, giving power and agency back to farmers over the price they receive and the quality of the final product. For us, it’s as simple as that. We believe better outputs are deserved not only for the consumer, but also the producer. With our business, we hope to be able to influence consumers to purchase more consciously, benefitting not only them but also the people who work very hard to provide the spices to them.

Having had the privilege of visiting ‘home’ on multiple occasions, it allowed me to learn a lot more about my own identity. My encounters of personal sensitivities gave me the opportunity to re-acquaint myself with a place where I once was very familiar with, a community I once knew and a new ‘family’ I wanted to form strong bonds with – an Ujamaa. And now, I want to grow this ‘Ujamaa’ with you, here in the UK. A place where transparency, sustainability and care are not only practiced but also normalised.