Spice Islands Logbook

In 2014 Phylipa and I embarked on a journey around the Spice Islands, now known as the Molucas.

Amongst the islands we visited were Ambon, the Banda Islands (once the only source of Nutmeg and Mace), and the islands of Ternate & Tidore, (once the only source of Cloves).

Vast fortunes were to be made, giving rise to several hundred years of fighting between the Portuguese, Dutch, British, Spanish and French, all wanting to control the lucrative spice trade.

We’re lucky in that over the years we’ve lived in or visited Indonesia (Java and Bali), Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Taiwan, India and Sri Lanka. 

Each country has centuries of tradition in preparing food and cooking with spices – the sambal dishes of Brunei, the rendang flavours of Sumatra, the chilli heat of Thailand, the many curry varieties of India and the laksa noodles of Singapore.

But there’s so much more.

For centuries food has been bringing people together to a communal table, allowing them to talk a while sharing their stories, their emotions, their experiences and their lives.

It’s the modern equivalent of sitting around the campfire and exploring memories. Having a sense of belonging; a place in the world.

There’s nothing better than enjoying food with friends. Food gives us an instant connection to our traditions and beliefs.  Most important it’s the way mothers in every country or tradition say “I love you”

An appetite for food is much like an appetite for life.  Food changes our mood and can induce contentment well beyond that of the digestive tract.

For me a delivered pizza or Chinese takeaway doesn’t tick any of these boxes.

I’m writing ‘Spice Islands Logbook’ in a travelogue style and highighting many of the spices we’ve been fortunate enough to savour.

Fingers crossed it’ll be ready by the end of August. I have two other books that’ll follow on unrelated subjects altogether. You’ll be notified of them all beforehand.

Graeme Dinnen

ResourcesForLife.net