The Herb and Spice Garden which is jointly managed by Shangri-La Rasa Sayang and Shangri-La Golden Sands has sprung back to life in conjunction with “World Planting Day” (March 21, 2022)
The lucky Malaysian couple of celebrity and entrepreneur Azri Azizi, his wife Aleeya Zailan and their children were the first hotel guests to replant Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg tree) in the new and expanded garden.
Originally set up 10 years ago, the plot fell into neglect during the prolonged Covid-19 lockdowns. With things returning to normalcy, the management decided to refresh it and even expanded it to twice the original size, from 168 sqm to 286 sqm.
Located between The Marquee and the hotel golf course, the new garden has welcomed the addition of a rare variant of sawtooth coriander, daun salam, Thai basil, kaffir lime, screwpine leaf and Ceylon cinnamon.
Other plants cultivated here include Stevia, which is often used as a sugar substitute by diabetics and health-conscious folk. There are also lemongrass, Indian borage, bird’s eye chilli, wild pepper, black pepper and wild leaf, robusta coffee, vanilla, cocoa, cat’s whiskers, ginger, curry leaves, nutmeg and cloves.
Besides giving guests an exciting insight into organic farming from our own backyard, the new Herb & Spice Garden will also supply our kitchen with a free and sustainable source of fresh ingredients – to spice up Asian culinary offerings in all our restaurants.
“We are very fortunate indeed to be able to get some locally sourced ingredients fresh from our very own spice garden. This is one of the small steps the resort has initiated in order to make the resort more eco-friendly with organic produce. Our guests are also very keen on our garden, as most of them love the outdoors. The spices we grow in our own backyard are the very same species that made Penang a famed port of call in the bygone, seafaring days of the spice trade, “ said Markus Christ, General Manager of Shangri-La Rasa Sayang and Shangri-La Golden Sands, Penang.
Meanwhile the resort’s landscapers, JL Landscape Sdn. Bhd were kind enough to sponsor all the herbs and spices in the new garden.