Kerala Spice Plantation & Markets
Kerala is not only known for its sheer natural beauty but also takes pride in being the largest spice producing region of India. Kerala spice plantation is one of its major attractions. Its wonderful cities like Cochin and Periyar are known for producing some of the finest spices in the world. Kerala spices are not only aromatic but also have a long shelf life. And purity is the hallmark of the Kerala spices. Some of the spices grown here are cinnamon, cardamom, clove, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, vanilla and nutmeg. Kerala Spice tour takes tourists to some of the mesmerizing destinations of Kerala. Kerala Spice tour encompasses places like Munnar, Periyar, Cochin, Thekkady and Kumarakom.
Kerala yields around seventy percent of the total Indian production of pepper, which is invariably sold to overseas markets of more than sixty countries. The intoxicating aroma of exclusive array of spices wafting in the air fills one's mind with absolute delight!!!
The history of spice plantations in Kerala dates back to olden times. During the erstwhile eras, the Greek, Roman, Chinese and Arab traders visited the Muziris (Kondungallur) on the Malabar Coast in search of Indian commodities. A variety and an exclusive range of spices like cloves, cinnamon and cardamom and pepper were the particular preferred items of the travellers of the foreign countries. They loaded their cruises with these embellished wide range of spices and sailed abroad to their far off homelands. The inhabitants of West Asia were crazy for Pepper, which is actually originated in the Malabar Coast of Kerala. Pepper was in great demand in those times. The Romans were the great buyers of the Indian spices in large quantities in Europe.
In the Idukki district of Kerala on the southwest coast of India there is a small village called Mannathara.
The word manathra evolves from the name of a tribal group called Mannan. This village is well known for its supreme quality of black pepper. Black pepper and cardamom from this area had been considered as an extraordinary quality in the Mattancherry spice market in Cochin. Cochin has become the commercial capital, a meeting junction for traders dealing in spices.
