Pemba: Spice Farms

North of Zanzibar lies a slightly smaller island of Pemba, Zanzibar’s lesser known sister. Known as the “Green Island” due to its lush vegetation, Pemba’s fertile soil and favorable climate have made it ideal for growing spices. Much less touristy and much more laid back, the island is famous for its spices, cultivated here pretty much everywhere and by everyone via small community plots. The number one spice is cloves, followed by cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, and vanilla. You can do a spice tour here, but it’s more like stopping at a plot of land and having a walk around random plants and trees identifying them.