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

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.

Street stalls near Granada cathedral sell a huge range of Arabic spices

2. Herbal Teas

Other spices and herb/spice blends that are available from Medievo and the street stalls around the cathedral are used as the basis for infusion teas – té Pakistaní, Chai or Flor de Granada being three of the most popular. A more intriguing concoction is infusión cannabis – a (clearly legal) blend of herbs and spices that promise to be very relaxing indeed.

If you are particularly interested in infusions with a Moorish flavour, Calle Calderia Nueva is central Granada’s other hotspot. Located the other side of Gran Via and just a two-minute walk from the cathedral and Alcaiceria, this chaotic mini-souk is lined with shops selling Arabic herb blends, fabrics and ceramics and cafés offering every conceivable tea-infusion flavour imaginable.

Calle Calderia Nueva, Granada, Spain

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.