An Essential Guide To Granadas Local Spices

Owing to its distinguished Moorish heritage – abruptly terminated in 1492 when the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella seized the city – Granada’s cuisine has been strongly influenced by Arabic spices and herbs. Today, a huge range of these are on sale in the Alcaiceria market, situated on the site of the city’s former Grand Bazaar, and on colourful street stalls around the cathedral.

1. Alcaiceria Market

Market

For spices with a Moorish flavour there is only one place to head to in Granada. Nestling in several narrow little streets next door to the cathedral is the Alcaiceria market, formerly the city’s huge bazaar in which spices, herbs and silks from north Africa were colourfully on sale. The bazaar was established in the fifteenth century and its 200+ shops and stalls originally stretched from Plaza Nueva to its current location by the cathedra. Sadly, though, it was burnt to the ground by a fire that started in Granada’s matchstick factory – of all places – in the late nineteenth century.

The reconstruction you can visit today is a shadow of what Granada’s Grand Bazaar once was, with some of its stores selling nothing but tacky souvenirs. Yet still at the Alcaiceria, from stalls and shops in the surrounding streets and from Plaza Bib-Rambla, you can find all manner of spices and herbs – some for cooking, some for pure enjoyment. Medievo, an excellent outlet specialising solely in spices, has two shops in this area and there is often a stall on the west side of the cathedral, on Calle Carcel Baja, from which you can buy everything from turmeric to cannabis-based concoctions.

Turmeric and Cumin

Throughout the centuries, southern Spanish cuisine has been hugely influenced by the spices and herbs available from nearby Morocco. Probably the most widely-used of these are cumin (comino) and turmeric (curcuma). In the stalls around Bib-Rambla and the Alcaiceria, these are also some of the most eye-catching spices on sale: heaps of yellow and light brown powder in authentic-style woven bags, they cry out to be sniffed and tasted. Their aromatic, mildly-spicy flavours are used in many Andalucian stews and casseroles.

Saffron

Saffron (azafran) is another popular spice you can buy around the Alcaiceria, both ground (molido) and in wispy threads that are plucked directly from the saffron crocus flower then dried. This is the delicate, expensive spice that gives paella rice its distinctive yellow colour. Incidentally, the reason saffron is so expensive is because for each pound approximately 250,000 flowers are needed. Beware, then, of stalls selling saffron at what appears to be an amazingly low price, especially if ground: it is likely to be a blend in which saffron features less than turmeric.

Colourful spices on sale at the Medievo store, near the Alcaiceria

Paprika

Peppers and paprika (pimentón) are another staple of Spanish cooking and can be found in colourful abundance around the cathedral and Alcaiceria. These smoky, woody spices are varying shades of red and look particularly attractive when displayed next to the yellow of turmeric and the orange of saffron. They differ in levels of spiciness, from dulce at the mild end of the spectrum, to picante at the hot end. Also available is a wide range of black and white peppercorns.

Spice/herb blends

On the site of Granada’s old bazaar, you’ll also find spice blends for particular dishes, such as, pre-prepared spice mixes for paella, curry and pinchitos, which are delicious southern-Spanish/Arabic take on kebabs or skewers. Served in all the tapas bars, these are usually comprised of generous chunks of chicken or pork seasoned to perfection with hints of turmeric, paprika and cumin.