The Science of Spice

Africa 31

MOZAMBIQUE

MADAGASCAR

TANZANIA

CAMEROON

SOMALIA

NIGERIA

ANGOLA

SOUTH

AFRICA

TUNISIA

ETHIOPIA

KENYA

Eastern influence

The Spice Route and

the Silk Road greatly

influenced cooking in the

eastern regions of Africa,

introducing spices such

as cinnamon, cardamom,

turmeric, and ginger,

mainly from India.

CALABASH NUTMEG

Nutmeg trees grow in

forests across western

Nigeria and central Africa.

VANILLA

Pods from Madagascar

are thought by many to

have the best flavour.

KORARIMA

Ethiopia is the main

producer and consumer of

aromatic korarima seeds.

PIRI PIRI CHILLIES

Also called bird’s-eye

chillies, these grow wild

in much of Africa.

BAKLOUTI CHILLI

This pepper is the main

ingredient in the Tunisian

hot paste harissa.

Cairo

Basra

Baghdad

Tunis

Ghat

Cape Town

Alexandria

Aden

Agadez

Elmina

Zanzibar

Rare, valuable

cloves brought this

island huge wealth

in the 1500s.

Kochi

KEY

Historical spice trade routes

Trans-Saharan trade routes

030-031_Map_africa.indd 31 13/06/2018 16:22