The spice route - Historical Background

In the 16th Century the Portuguese began to trade with the Far East via the Cape of Good Hope. Over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries other European Nationsfollowed suit inopening trade routes with Asia. The West was now relying on spices coming from Asia : pepper from India, cinnamon from Ceylon; cloves gathered from Molucca and nutmeg from the Banda Archipelago...

Within a few years, a frenzy had seized the merchants and trading posts were created all over Asia. Products such as fabrics (cotton, percaline, silk, porcelain, teas, and coffees found their respective ways onto European tables. Three companies became dominant in this trade : VOC (Verenigade Oost~Indische), the Dutch East India company, the EIC (the East India Company) for the British , and CIO (La Compagnie des Indes Orientales) in France.

Founded in 1666 by Colbert, the French India Company was given the royal seal and authorised to trade in countries well beyond the Cape of Good Hope. There are many stops along the spice route. Villa Kerasy celebrates the major ones by allocating their names to the various rooms within the hotel. To set the scene let’s have a look at the names of the rooms and see from where they derive. BOURBON CADIZ CANTON CEYLON DESHIMA CAP TOWN PONDICHERY PORT-LOUIS BATAVIA L'ORIENT MADRAS MOCHA