5 - An archipelago of plants and spices : the resilience and creolisation of Asia in the Antilles

This paper investigates how and why Indian and South East Asian plants and spices brought to the Antilles with the European colonial exploitation of this archipelago, and in particular with Indian indentured labourers’ kala pani (dark waters) crossings in the second half of the 19^th century, endured, were transmitted and transformed over generations of Antilleans.

While memories and narratives of the trauma of indentureship were often silenced and their reclaiming has remained tentative compared to similar attempts for slavery and the slave trade, cultural memory and heritage from Asia undeniably shaped the Antilleans’ everyday lives and customs as plants, herbs and spices were preserved in private and public spheres – family homes and gardens, local parks, food culture, Hindu rites,ayurvedic medicine, etc.

I examine the resilience and creolisation of some of the most emblematic Antillean trees and plants (neem, moringa oleifera, taro…) as well as spices (turmeric, ginger, cloves…) originating from India, former Ceylan (Sri Lanka), Malaysia and Indonesia. Not only are they integral to Antillean landscapes, culinary and medicinal practices but they are also showcased in arts and literatures as testimonies to the diversity of Antilleans’ cultural heritage in which previously overshadowed connections with Asia are gaining increasing visibility.