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EveryMasala

Spices of Taveuni

A green island in Fiji where vanilla, turmeric and ginger are grown, and the 180th meridian crosses.

Taveuni

Traded and grown here

VanillaTurmericGingerKava

Best time: May to October, drier months.

Taveuni is known as the Garden Island of Fiji for its fertile volcanic soil and rain. Farmers grow vanilla, kava, turmeric, ginger and other crops, and the island is near the 180th meridian.

NASA Space Shuttle image of Taveuni , a massive shield volcano which is the third largest island in Fiji . Top of image is NW.
Photo: NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Spices and trade

Vanilla is grown on small farms and hand-pollinated, and pods are cured and sold locally and abroad. Turmeric and ginger are also grown, and Fiji's kitchens use curry powders that reflect the large Indo-Fijian community.

The place and its people

Fijian and Indo-Fijian cooking exist side by side, with lovo earth-oven feasts and curries. Kava, a drink of the root, is central to Fijian hospitality.

Visiting

Waterfalls, rainforest and diving draw visitors. Ask at a lodge about farm visits.

A trail idea for Taveuni

  1. A vanilla farm See hand pollination.
  2. Bouma Falls Visit the waterfalls.
  3. Waiyevo See the meridian marker.
  4. A village lovo Eat from an earth oven.
About this page

Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Taveuni" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.

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