Why A Holiday In Grenada Will Renew and Re-energise Your Body And Soul
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The Caribbean’s famed ‘Spice Isle’ is a breath of fresh air - and it’s the perfect destination for inspo-hungry home cooks and dedicated foodies...
As soon as you arrive on Grenada, you’ll understand why it’s known as the ‘Spice Island’: the cooling sea breeze here is filled with exotic aromas and the island’s flavours are everywhere. With flights with British Airways from London, this island is the nearest thing you’ll find to foodie heaven and you can book with confidence, safe in the knowledge that you can change your date or destination if you need to.
Grenada’s land is so fertile that virtually anything will grow - and it does so in abundance, all year round, from golden apples to callaloo, citrus fruits to cocoa. But spices are a Grenadian speciality: you’ll find nutmeg and mace, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and vanilla growing in fields, gardens, and by the road.
Nutmeg, or ‘Grenadian black gold’ as it’s also known, is the island’s most famous spice - it even features on the national flag. You’ll find it in pretty much everything, from delicious local dishes and drinks to medicinal remedies. Selected from the highest altitude plantations on this once-volcanic island, where nutmeg trees are said to be able to ‘smell the sea’, nutmeg comprises two foods in one: the nut, or inner seed - without which a Grenadian rum punch just wouldn’t be Grenadian. This is added to lots of foods, often served freshly grated, and it’s also made into jams, sauces, salad dressings and much more. Then there’s the bright red mace, which surrounds the nutmeg shell.
To uncover more about this precious, versatile spice, as well as the fascinating history of the island, you can join a tour of the nutmeg factory near the bustling seaside town of Gouyave. Inside an impressive shorefront building, with windows open to the Caribbean sea breeze, you’ll find stacks of enormous curing trays where workers grade, sort and pack the nutmeg by hand. At the end of the tour, you’ll have the chance to buy all kinds of nutmeg products, including fragrant handmade spice necklaces.
A tour of De La Grenade’s Spice Garden Trail, set in the beautiful lush hills of St. Pauls, is another delectable way of whiling away some time. As well as nutmeg, the remarkable garden is home to a variety of herbs and spices, flowers and plants. You’ll see how nutmeg is processed into delicious jams and jellies and enjoy lots of tastings including samples of the famous De La Grenade liqueurs, one of the Caribbean’s oldest and most exotic flavours.
Cinnamon is another spice found everywhere on the island. Its inner bark is peeled from cinnamon trees by hand and dried in the sun until it curls up into the scrolls we use at home. Grenadians put cinnamon into tea, porridge, desserts and stews. Take some home with you, put a stick into a mug and add hot water for a healthy start to your day.
For a tantalising, mouthwatering Grenadian experience, take the Savor the Spice tour, a culinary island adventure. You’ll get a taste of the ‘real’ Grenada, meeting Grenadians and enjoying opportunities to sample local, seasonal dishes at friendly local restaurants. The tour is a perfect combination of Grenadian cuisines and historical cultural experiences; you’ll even get a mini-cookery lesson to learn the secrets to incorporating the best of the island’s local herbs into your own cooking. This is a great way to taste local delicacies, including national dish ‘oil down’ and tasty octopus broth, while having fun on the way. Delicious.
Dreaming of a Grenada getaway? Book something to look forward to and secure your Caribbean holiday with a deposit starting from £75pp. Book now and change later with flexible booking options. ATOL protected. Find out more at ba.com/grenada.
