What is in a Zanzibar spice box?

Ours contain between six and twelve premium spices — including cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, turmeric and Zanzibari blends such as pilau masala and chai spice — sealed and presented in a handcrafted wooden box with story and recipe cards.

Are the spices whole or ground?

Whole wherever the spice keeps better whole, which is most of them. Blends such as pilau masala and chai spice are supplied ground, as they are intended to be used.

Can I buy Zanzibar spices online and have them shipped?

Yes. Spices are sealed and packed inside a rigid wooden box, then shipped using an available tracked service. Import rules for food and plant products vary by destination country, so please check your own country's guidance.

How long do the spices keep?

Whole spices stored sealed, away from light and heat, hold their aroma well for a long time. Grind only what you need, and keep blends closed between uses.

Zanzibar spice gifts

Luxury Zanzibar Spice Gift Boxes

A Zanzibar spice set is the island's most natural gift — and the one most likely to be used rather than shelved. Each ZAWADI spice box pairs a handcrafted wooden presentation box with sealed, labelled premium Zanzibar spices, a spice story card and recipes for cooking with them.

Shop Spice Boxes Explore The Spices

An open ZAWADI wooden Zanzibar spice box with cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla

Made to order in Zanzibar

Choose Your Spice Box

Four collections, each prepared after your order is placed and finished by hand before it leaves the island.

6 spices

Classic Zanzibar Collection

Six premium Zanzibar spices in a handcrafted wooden box. An accessible luxury Zanzibar souvenir, prepared to order on the island.

$89

View collection Bestseller

Signature Zanzibar Collection

The flagship ZAWADI gift. Eight premium spices, luxury wooden presentation and recipe cards, wrapped and prepared especially for your recipient.

$129

View collection 10 spices

Heritage Collection

Ten premium spices with a Zanzibar heritage booklet and recipe collection — a deeper journey through the island's spice tradition.

$179

View collection 12 spices

Collector's Edition

Our most complete spice library, presented in a large luxury wooden box with a numbered collector certificate and personalisation.

$249

View collection

Inside the box

Premium Zanzibar Spices

Descriptions focus on what each spice smells and tastes like and how to cook with it. We make no medical or health claims.

Zanzibar Cloves

Aroma: Warm, sweet and resinous, with a hint of woodsmoke.
Flavour: Intense and sweetly pungent; a little carries a long way.
In the kitchen: Pilau, biryani, chai, braises, poached fruit and mulled drinks.
Heritage: Cloves have been central to Zanzibar's agricultural story for generations, and remain the island's most recognised spice export.

Cinnamon

Aroma: Sweet, papery and gently floral.
Flavour: Mellow warmth rather than heat; rounds savoury and sweet dishes alike.
In the kitchen: Pilau rice, chai, slow-cooked meats, baking and coffee.
Heritage: A staple of the island's spice farms and of Swahili coastal cooking.

Cardamom

Aroma: Bright, camphorous and citrus-lifted.
Flavour: Cool, perfumed and slightly sweet.
In the kitchen: Chai, coffee, rice dishes, custards and pastries.
Heritage: An essential note in Zanzibari spiced tea and celebratory rice.

Black Pepper

Aroma: Fresh, woody and sharp when cracked.
Flavour: Clean heat with a fruity finish.
In the kitchen: Everyday seasoning, marinades, sauces and spice blends.
Heritage: Grown alongside cloves and nutmeg on the island's smallholder farms.

Nutmeg

Aroma: Sweet, nutty and faintly woody.
Flavour: Rich and rounded; softens dairy and root vegetables.
In the kitchen: Sauces, greens, baked goods, spiced drinks.
Heritage: Often sold in the shell with its scarlet mace on Zanzibar spice tours.

Vanilla

Aroma: Deep, creamy and floral.
Flavour: Sweet and rounded, with a long finish.
In the kitchen: Desserts, custards, coffee, syrups and infusions.
Heritage: A prized crop, cured slowly by hand over many weeks.

See the full spice collection

Crafting options

Choose Your Crafting Speed

Crafting time is how long we take to prepare your gift in Zanzibar. It is separate from international shipping transit time. We will not promise an exact delivery date until your destination and shipping service are confirmed.

Standard

Up to 7 days

Included

Included.

Priority

3–4 days

+$35

Moved to the front of the bench.

Express

24–48 hours

+$70

For gifts needed at short notice.

Questions

Good To Know

What is in a Zanzibar spice box?: Ours contain between six and twelve premium spices — including cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, turmeric and Zanzibari blends such as pilau masala and chai spice — sealed and presented in a handcrafted wooden box with story and recipe cards.
Are the spices whole or ground?: Whole wherever the spice keeps better whole, which is most of them. Blends such as pilau masala and chai spice are supplied ground, as they are intended to be used.
Can I buy Zanzibar spices online and have them shipped?: Yes. Spices are sealed and packed inside a rigid wooden box, then shipped using an available tracked service. Import rules for food and plant products vary by destination country, so please check your own country's guidance.
How long do the spices keep?: Whole spices stored sealed, away from light and heat, hold their aroma well for a long time. Grind only what you need, and keep blends closed between uses.

A Spice Box, Made For One Person

Choose your collection, add an engraving and we will prepare it in Zanzibar.

Shop Zanzibar Gifts Create A Bespoke Gift