Spices, Kew Gardens

Do you know your mace from your cloves? Your turmeric from your cardamom? Kew Gardens’ fiery Spice Festival opens up a whole world of zingy flavour and colour this summer.

Kew Gardens Spices Festival 2015

Spices at Kew Gardens, London explores the mysterious world of spices: from the exotic climates where they grow to the bustling Spice Exchanges where they are sold. Discover what makes a spice a spice, why they can be so incredibly valuable, and how they are prepared before they turn up in our peppermills and vanilla ice cream.

Spices Festival highlights

If you’re interested in a spot of spice history, check out the intriguing and treacherous tales of 15^th century spice hunters and traders, brought to life in The Marianne North Gallery through diary entries and original artefacts. Kew played a central role in the spice trade at this time, as a highly respected centre for authentication, and a base for talented botanists who travelled the globe in search of zesty treasures.

Make sure you try your hand at ‘bartering’ in Kew Gardens’ very own Spice Exchange, and don’t forget to concoct a spice mix of your own to take home.

Complete your visit with a taste explosion of spiced food and drink from around the world, sold from street food vans in the Orangey, the Pavillion, and a pop-up bread kitchen.

This tasty and enlightening festival at Kew Gardens will add some zest to your summer.