Top 10 Spices of Kerala

Kerala has always been famous for rich and exotic spices and that was also the main reason why ancient traders followed the ‘spice routes’ (to Kerala) and established trade centers in the state. Through this article, we would introduce you to the various condiments Kerala is famous for and their uses.

More about these Spices

Pepper

Image by Rainer Zenz via Wikipedia

Let’s start with pepper. Pepper is also known as the King Of Spices and rightly so, because of its excellent medicinal value and popularity. It was the demand of pepper that finally led to colonial conquests, war and eventually suppression.

Europeans came to know about pepper through Arab traders and when they discovered Kerala’s huge potential in pepper they started their trade here. Varieties of pepper include Panniyur-1, Karimunda, Arakkulam Munda, Kuthiravally, Balankotta and Kalluvally.

Cardamom

Image by Crux via Wikipedia

With a history as old as human civilization, cardamom is a spice grown mainly in Kerala. The truly unique taste, flavor and aroma makes this spice one of the most sought after ones in the whole world. Cardamom is famous as an aphrodisiac and a stimulant, and is also used for making perfumes and breath fresheners. Other than Kerala, Arabs and Africans also use cardamom.

Cardamom in Alapuzha comes in three aromatic grades – ‘Alleppey Green Extra Bold’ (AGEB), ‘Alleppey Green Bold’ (AGB), and ‘Alleppey Green Superior’ (AGS). Though cardamom was rampant in ancient Kerala, its use and popularity grew monstrously once the Europeans started using it.

Clove

 Image by Ies via Wikipedia

Clove was initially delegated to Indonesia, but once they were cultivated in Kerala, the trade grew and now the spice is grown mostly in Kollam, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Clove is popular for its oils and it is added in its ‘whole form’ in meat dishes for added flavor. Clove, wholly or powdered is also used to enhance the taste of payasams (sweet dishes used as deserts).

Clove, with its incredible antiquity was once used by the people of Kerala to improve their dental hygiene. Hence it has excellent medicinal properties. Manufacturers use clove to make perfumes, soaps and toothpastes as well.

Nutmeg

Image by Nk via wikipedia

Nutmeg is an essential condiment used in sauces, soaps, confectionaries and several baked goods. Certain chefs add nutmeg as a seasoning agent. The nutmeg tree is known as ‘jathi’ in Malayalam and its fruit, Jathikka. Nutmeg in its unripened form is pale yellow and spherical, and once it becomes ripe, it would have a hard, black seed and a red mace (dried reticulated aril) around it. The nutmeg tree gives two ‘fruits’ – mace and nutmeg.

If you like to visit the plantations to see this lovely fruit, you can head to South India, where most of the cultivation takes place.

Star anise

Image by Ies via Wikipedia

Star anise is a lovely looking fruit that comes from an evergreen tree. It is shaped like a star, hence the name and its color can range from white to red. The fruits themselves have 6-8 carpels arranged in a whorl. Each of these carpels contains a seed within, and it is this seed that is used for flavoring not just meat and pickles, but vegetable dishes as well. The seeds themselves are shiny, brittle, smooth and ovoid.

Many of the elders in Kerala would vouch for the medicinal properties of star anise apart from doing its primary function as a flavoring agent, like, for example, it’s ability in curing rheumatism, helping in digestion and so on.

Ginger

Image by Alexbrn via Wikipedia

Ginger is grown in other parts of the country, but the variety grown in Kerala is believed to be of very high quality. Both processed and raw ginger is high in demand and many tourists take it back to their homeland. Some like to drink it with their tea, some garnish grated ginger in their dishes and some use it to appease a queasy stomach. The whole ginger plant has an underground rhizome that exudes an appeasing aroma. The rhizome is also considered to be the most valuable part of the plant.

Ginger is used in food processing, for curried meats, cocktails, carbonate drinks, liquors and soft drinks. It is both a flavoring agent and a stimulant. Pickled ginger in vinegar is very popular among the folks of Kerala. Ginger as candy is extremely popular among children as well.

Turmeric

Image by Laitche via Wikipedia

Turmeric belongs to the ginger family and has nothing to do with saffron, contrary to popular belief. Turmeric is known for its huge medicinal value, culinary uses and antioxidant properties. This spice must be sparingly used as it is pungent.

Turmeric is capable of nulling the effects suffered by a person going through food poisoning.  The spice has an earthy smell, a bitter, peppery flavor and acts as an alternative to the expensive saffron.

Cinnamon 

Image by LivingShadow via Wikipedia

Kerala cuisine is incomplete with cinnamon, the mild flavoring agent. Cinnamon has medicinal properties as well as it cures nausea and vomiting. Additionally, the spice is noted for its stimulant and carminative properties. The bark oil of cinnamon is used for making perfumes and other cosmetic goods. The inner bark of the mature cinnamon shoots is dried in the sun and then later in the shade. It has a delicate fragrance with an agreeable taste, hence used for pharmaceutical requirements, liquors and even for coating sweets.

Vanilla

Image by Inisheer via Wikipedia

Vanilla was not native to Kerala, it was brought here by the West, but once cultivation started, the demand for the spice grew. The cultivation progressed because vanilla thrives in humidity. At present, there are plenty of vanilla growers in the state.

Vanilla is a very popular and most essential ingredient in cakes, ice creams, beverages and confectionaries. Vanilla is a critical agent in several pharmaceutical products as well.

Tamarind

Image by Magnus Manske via wikipedia

Tamarind is an essential ingredient used for flavoring dishes made in Kerala. It would enhance the taste, and many are quite particular about the quantity of tamarind they use. Tamarind kernal powder on the other hand, is used widely in the pharmaceutical industry, dyeing and tanning, textile industry, cosmetic and even for making confectionaries.

Other commonly used spices in Kerala cuisine are cumin seeds, asafoetida, aniseed, basil, coriander, celery, caraway seed, oregano, thyme, tharagon and chilly.

Shopping for spices – Quick knowledge for you

While shopping for clove and cardamom, remember to bite into them; you can gauge the quality and aroma of these spices by their taste.

To shop for excellent cardamom, you must be able to crush them with your fingers and the aroma they generate should be irresistible. Oregano, bay leaf and coriander all come dried and processed in their sealed packets. Alappuzha, Munnar and Kozhikode are the best places to visit when you are shopping for spices and aromatic oils. While shopping for turmeric just remember that the colors range from deep yellow-orange to bright yellow.

The spice trade in Kerala has grown considerably huge over the last one decade with over 5 lakh tonnes of herbs and spice exports. Kerala may be a tiny state, but the contribution it makes to the economy of the country is certainly huge. The success saga continues for Kerala.

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30 Comments

  1. Nijeesh K on December 5, 2016 at 10:05 am

    This article is really wonderful. It has provided good knowledge about Kerala spices.

  2. Shruti Mukundan on February 10, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    Very comprehensive article, thanks Sunu! I’m an amateur chef and would like to get in touch with you regarding a few queries I have. What would be a good way to reach you?

    • Sunu Philip on February 17, 2017 at 8:17 am

      Hi Shruti,
      Really glad to hear that you liked the article.
      Well, I’m also an amateur in cooking. If your queries are about spices you can ask me but if it’s something related to cooking I don’t think I’m much of help. Thank you for reaching out.

  3. Elred Anthony on February 15, 2017 at 6:57 pm

    Sunu,
    Actually, I’m planning to start a Spice store in Trinidad & Tobago, and would like to connect with a cooperative, or any other establishment where I can get a wide variety of quality spices ready for export, and obviously reasonably priced.
    If U can help me with this, I’ll be so grateful.

    Sincere regards,
    Elred

    • Sunu Philip on February 17, 2017 at 8:25 am

      Hi Elred,
      Thank you for reaching out. But I’m not the right person to contact regarding the spice export. You can check out with the Spices Board of India to connect with any company where you can get quality spices ready for export.

    • tahir on October 19, 2017 at 7:06 pm

      yes sure i will help u for this

    • Pramod on April 13, 2018 at 8:07 am

      Hi Elred

      I can help you out to get 100 percentage organic quality spice products from Kerala, if you have the requirement now. Pls contact

  4. Srijan Chowdhury on May 28, 2017 at 8:55 am

    Thank yu mam for this blog. It helped to do my Geography project assignment.

    • Sunu Philip on May 30, 2017 at 7:07 am

      Hi Srijan,
      We are really glad to hear that the article helped you in doing your Geography project. Continue to read our blog to find more informative articles.

  5. Swaroop on June 25, 2017 at 7:28 am

    Thank you ma’am this blog helped me in my assignment

    • Sunu Philip on June 26, 2017 at 7:01 am

      Glad to hear that Swaroop. Thank you!

  6. Nadim on October 9, 2017 at 10:58 am

    Hello everybody.

    I’m looking for the farm where the above spices are grown.
    Please guide me with the address of the farms in Kerala.

    Thanks in advance.

    • Sunu Philip on October 27, 2017 at 6:03 am

      Hi Nadim,
      The major hub of spice plantations in Kerala, as per my knowledge is at Kumily, Idukki. You can get there by road. It takes about 5 hours from Ernakulam.

  7. s patel on February 24, 2018 at 2:51 am

    next week i will there about spice business purpose contact +91 9601109894

    • Sunu Philip on March 8, 2018 at 4:25 am

      Hi Patel,

      We hearty welcome you to experience the mind-blowing beauty of Kerala. If you need any assistance please feel free to contact us at info@paradise-kerala.com.

  8. Saneha on April 2, 2018 at 7:24 am

    Hi Sunu,
    Thanks for your article it’s been very informative.. i will be visiting kerala shortly can you plz help me wid places where I can get wholesale price spices .. Good quality n reasonable price. ..

    Thanks again,

  9. G. kalyan on July 15, 2018 at 1:26 pm

    Hi Sunnu

    The blog is very informative. Thanks for the information. Can you please let me know the places in kerala where i can get the spices. Please let me know so that i can visit the places to purchase the spices in wholesale prices. Thank you once again.

    • Sunu Philip on July 31, 2018 at 12:58 pm

      Hi G. Kalyan,
      Thank you for reaching out. But I’m not the right person to contact regarding the spice. You can check out with the Spices Board of India to connect with any company where you can get quality spices.

    • Premnath R on September 22, 2018 at 6:22 pm

      Hi Kalyan,

      We are manufacturer, wholesaler and traders of all spices. Do feel to reach out @ 7904082926

  10. Abijith on August 7, 2018 at 2:24 pm

    hiiiii Friends,
    I’m Abijith from Wayanad, Kerala.
    I am selling spice products from Wayanad district in Kerala online. If interested, please visit my online store

    http://www.instamojo.com/bamboomart.

    Thanks

  11. Mrs . Lakshmy Menon on July 26, 2019 at 2:55 am

    Good information about Kerala spices.Helped to give information to students about spices

  12. Ajay Chander R. on October 26, 2019 at 12:16 pm

    This article is wonderful about our kerala spices and gives me detailed information. This blog has serious articles which are really useful. Loving it and keep doing your good work.

    • Sunu Philip on October 28, 2019 at 11:31 am

      Thank you, Ajay Chander. Keep reading our other articles.

  13. Bibin Xavier on October 31, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    Nice post. Good information on kerala

  14. dharmesh kalia on December 28, 2019 at 1:03 pm

    Very knowldgeable.
    Do v have mazines or jornals
    on this, in english or hindi.
    would like to visit karela to know
    more about it

  15. Spices of India on February 17, 2022 at 6:28 am

    Thank you for sharing this informative blog with us. This is really helpful. keep sharing these kinds of blogs.

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