As the sun sets over Stone Town’s seafront, the grills at Forodhani Gardens light up one by one. Vendors stretch dough paper-thin for Zanzibar pizza, ladle tangy yellow urojo soup, and press sugarcane with ginger and lime. Earlier the same day, a guide on a spice farm cut open a nutmeg fruit to show you the red mace inside.
Zanzibar’s food is shaped by the spice trade: Swahili coastal cooking mixed with Omani, Indian and Persian influences, built on seafood, coconut, rice and the cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper grown on the island. The two experiences most visitors seek out are a spice farm tour, usually USD 15–40 in 2026, and the Forodhani night market in Stone Town.
This guide covers what happens on a spice tour, which spices to buy, the dishes to try, how to eat safely at Forodhani, eating during Ramadan, and halal and dietary notes.
Why Zanzibar Is the Spice Island
In the 19th century, the Omani sultans moved their capital to Zanzibar and planted vast clove plantations, and for decades the island was one of the world’s leading clove producers. Spices remain part of daily life and a major draw for visitors, alongside Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What Happens on a Spice Farm Tour
- You walk through a shaded farm, usually near Stone Town in the Kizimbani or Kidichi area, with a guide.
- The guide shows you each plant and lets you guess it by smell and taste: cinnamon bark, nutmeg with its red mace, cloves, black pepper vines, vanilla orchids, cardamom, lemongrass, turmeric and ginger.
- You taste tropical fruit such as jackfruit, rambutan, mangosteen or starfruit, depending on the season.
- Many tours end with a lunch of pilau or curry cooked with the farm’s spices, or a short cooking class.
- Staff often make you leaf hats, bags and rings as a playful farewell, and there is a shop selling spices, oils and soaps.
Tours last two to four hours. Travellers on forums advise choosing a working family farm, bringing cash for the shop, and asking the price of spices before you agree to buy.
Spices to Buy in Zanzibar
| Spice | Why buy it |
|---|---|
| Cloves | Zanzibar’s signature spice, intensely aromatic |
| Cinnamon | Bark sticks, sweeter and softer than many supermarket types |
| Nutmeg and mace | Whole nutmegs keep their flavour for years |
| Black pepper | Whole peppercorns from local vines |
| Vanilla | Pods are good value compared with Europe |
| Cardamom | Used in tea, coffee, rice and sweets |
| Pilau masala | A ready mix for Zanzibari spiced rice |
Buy whole spices rather than ground for freshness, and check your country’s rules on bringing plant products home; sealed, dried spices are usually fine.
Dishes to Try in Zanzibar
- Zanzibar pizza: a thin dough parcel filled with minced meat, egg, onion and cheese, fried on a griddle; sweet versions with banana and chocolate are also sold.
- Urojo (Zanzibar mix): a tangy, mango- and lime-based soup with bhajias, potatoes, cassava crisps and chutney.
- Pilau: rice cooked with cumin, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves, often with meat; the Swahili festive dish.
- Biryani: the Zanzibari version, with meat cooked separately from the spiced rice.
- Octopus curry (pweza wa nazi) and fish in coconut sauce.
- Mishkaki: marinated meat skewers grilled over charcoal.
- Mandazi: lightly sweet fried dough, often flavoured with cardamom and coconut.
- Spiced coffee and tea: strong coffee served in tiny cups by street vendors, and tea with cardamom and ginger.
The Forodhani Night Market
Every evening from around sunset, Forodhani Gardens on the Stone Town waterfront fills with food stalls. It is lively, atmospheric and one of the island’s highlights.
- Go for Zanzibar pizza, urojo, sugarcane juice with ginger and lime, grilled corn and meat skewers cooked fresh.
- Be careful with seafood: much of it is displayed from early evening and simply reheated. Forum regulars advise choosing items grilled thoroughly in front of you and eating early in the evening.
- Agree the price first, especially for seafood, and pay per item.
- Expect enthusiastic vendors; a polite “no, thank you” (hapana, asante) is enough.
Eating During Ramadan
Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim, and Ramadan changes daily life. Many local restaurants close during the day, and visitors are asked not to eat, drink or smoke in public in Stone Town during fasting hours. Hotels and resorts in beach areas such as Nungwi and Kendwa serve guests as usual. After sunset, iftar brings Stone Town to life, and Forodhani becomes especially busy.
Halal and Dietary Notes
Halal note: Zanzibar is one of the easiest places in East Africa for halal food: local meat is halal by default and pork is rare. Alcohol is served mainly in hotels, beach bars and some tourist restaurants, especially in Nungwi and Kendwa; Stone Town has many alcohol-free local restaurants. Seafood is central to the cuisine; some Hanafi scholars permit only fish, so check with your own scholar about octopus and prawns. See our halal food travel guide.
Vegetarians can enjoy urojo, vegetable curries, chapati, mandazi, fruit and sweet pizzas. Respect local dress codes in Stone Town by covering shoulders and knees.
What Food Costs in 2026
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Spice farm tour | About USD 15–40 per person, more with lunch or transport |
| Zanzibar pizza at Forodhani | About TZS 4,000–8,000 |
| Meat or seafood skewer at Forodhani | About TZS 3,000–10,000 |
| Bowl of urojo | About TZS 2,000–4,000 |
| Main course at a Stone Town restaurant | About TZS 15,000–35,000 |
Plan your budget with our food budget calculator for Tanzania.
Frequently Asked Questions
What spices is Zanzibar famous for?
Cloves above all, plus cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, cardamom and vanilla.
Which spice farm should I visit?
Choose a working family farm near Stone Town with good recent reviews. Most tours are similar; smaller groups and farms that include a cooked lunch are usually the most rewarding.
Is a spice tour in Zanzibar worth it?
Yes for most visitors: it is easy, inexpensive and explains the island’s history. Combine it with a Stone Town walk or a visit to Jozani Forest.
What is Zanzibar famous for in food?
Spices, seafood, Zanzibar pizza, urojo, pilau and biryani, and the Forodhani night market.
What is Zanzibar pizza?
A thin dough parcel filled with minced meat, egg, onion and cheese or with sweet fillings, folded and fried on a griddle. It is nothing like Italian pizza.
Is Forodhani food safe?
Generally yes if you choose freshly cooked items. Be cautious with seafood that has been displayed for hours, and eat early in the evening.
What is urojo?
A tangy yellow soup made with mango, lime and spices, topped with bhajias, potatoes, cassava crisps and chutney. Also called Zanzibar mix.
Can I eat in public during Ramadan in Zanzibar?
It is respectful not to eat or drink in public in Stone Town during fasting hours. Hotels and beach resorts serve guests as normal.
Is food in Zanzibar halal?
Local food is generally halal, as the island is almost entirely Muslim. Check hotels and tourist restaurants, which may serve alcohol.
Can I bring spices home from Zanzibar?
Usually yes, if they are dried and sealed. Check your home country’s customs rules, and declare plant products if required.
What should I drink in Zanzibar?
Sugarcane juice with ginger and lime, fresh tropical juices, spiced tea and the strong coffee sold by Stone Town’s street vendors.
What is the best time for a spice tour?
Mornings are cooler and many tours include lunch. Tours run all year; the long rains around April and May can make paths muddy.
More from East Africa: nyama choma in Kenya, injera in Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
Sources
- Siso Spice Farm, Zanzibar (spice tour content)
- Forodhani food guide, Bongo Trips, Tanzania
- Zanzibar, Wikipedia (clove history, Omani sultanate)
