Since its discovery in 1492, Grenada’s fertile soil has been used for agricultural purposes. Initially the islands were used to grow sugar cane for Rum production. Today sugar cane is still the base material of Grenada’s rum industry. Fields of the long sweet grass can be seen on any drive through the countryside.

Rum is still made here in the old fashioned way, pressed by water power, fermented in copper pots and bottled by hand. The main Rum distilleries have guided tours explaining the process from start to finish and often will have tasters available for the adventurous visitor at the end of the tour.

When eastern spices were first introduced to Grenada, they were a novelty – the nutmeg for the Sunday morning Punch. With the devastation of the spice plantations in the Orient however, the local plantation owners seized the opportunity and gradually Grenada’s spice industry was developed. Today nutmeg, allspice, clove, cinnamon, ginger, bay leaves, tumeric (local saffron) and sapote are all grown here and Grenada is one of the world’s major suppliers of nutmeg and mace. All good reasons why Grenada is known as the Isle of Spice. Visits to working spice estates are available as part of regular tours..

Plantations and estates in Grenada have continued as a way of life even through the many changes of ownership. The names of the remaining estates and even the towns and villages still reflect this multi-cultural past.