Top 10 Spices of Kerala

Kerala and Spices

Kerala is known as the land of spices. It is also known as the capital of spices. India’ s major contribution of spice export is from Kerala. Kerala has its dominance over spices and takes pride in its abundance.

The spices of Kerala have a history of over thousand years. Kerala became famous because of its monopoly over spices. In the ancient period, Kerala was the base of the world’s spice trade. One of the reasons for western colonization in India is mainly due to its control over spice trade from Kerala.

One of the specialties of Kerala is its spices. Our natural and organic range of spices, spice mixes, and aromatic herbs are perfect for regular home cooking and for professional cooks.
Apart from adding color, flavor, and taste, the consumption of spices provides infinite health benefits.
Spices rejuvenate cooking with its freshness and goodness.
Spices provide a unique flavor to the culinary specialties of Keralites.

1. Pepper

Pepper is known as the King Of Spices because of its excellent medicinal value and popularity. It is also known as Black Gold. It is one of the earliest known spices. It is the world’s favorite spice. 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. This spice is grown in both low lands and high ranges of the state.

Use:

Widely used in food, soups, beverages, and medicines. Peppercorns are used as whole or ground and added to dishes or fries. It gives food a distinctive aroma and flavor along with its piquant heat.
Stimulates digestion, relieves constipation and improves blood circulation.
It is used for its medicinal properties. It helps to cope with cold, cough, infections, etc. It helps to deal with muscle pains.

2. Cardamom

Cardamom is known as Queen of spices. It is the highly-priced spice and is grown on the slopes of Western Ghats in Kerala. Its unique taste and flavor make it one of the most popular spices in the world. Cardamom is used to spice both sweet and savory dishes. It is widely used in Indian, Arabic, and Europian cuisine. It comes in two types and is used as whole pods, seeds, or ground. Cardamom is found in the garam masala spice mixture that seasons meat and vegetable dishes, and in hot beverages

Uses

Cardamom is a famous
It is also used for making perfumes and breath fresheners.
Cardamom is a much-loved spice for its flavor and unique taste. It is intensely fragrant and aromatic and is an indispensable ingredient in biriyani and pulao.
Other than Kerala, Arabs and Africans also use cardamom.

3. Clove

clove-spices-of-kerala

Cloves as one of the main ingredients in gingerbread baked goods or a staple spice in Indian cuisine. In addition to their sweet, aromatic flavor, cloves are known for their potent medicinal properties.
Studies have found that the compounds in cloves may have several health benefits, including supporting liver health and helping stabilize blood sugar levels. Clove is extensively cultivated in Kerala. It is known as grambu or karayambu. Clove is one of the key ingredients of garam masala (spices in varying proportions, roasted and powdered and used for cooking).

Uses

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 payasam (sweet dishes used as deserts).
It helps to improve dental hygiene. It has excellent medicinal properties.
Clove is used to make perfumes, soaps, and toothpaste as well. Clove oil is used as a balm for toothache and it is effective in the treatment of acidity and indigestion. It is also a beneficial remedy for chest pains, fever, digestive problems, cough, and cold.

4. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is very popular in Kerala. The nutmeg tree is known as ‘jathi’ in Malayalam and its fruit, Jathikka. The nutmeg tree gives two ‘fruits’ – mace and nutmeg. This spice is mentioned in the Vedic literature of India.

Uses

This mild baking spice adds both flavor and aroma to cakes, muffins, sweetbreads, fruit pies, cookies, meats, soups, puddings, and sausages.
Nutmeg is an essential condiment used in sauces, soaps, confectionaries and several baked goods.
Nutmeg has high medicinal value with its aphrodisiac, stimulant, carminative and astringent

properties.

Nutmeg oil is used in manufacturing cosmetics.

5. Star Anise

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 seeds themselves are shiny, brittle, smooth and ovoid.

Uses

Aromatic and flavourful spice mostly used in various spice blends. It can be used in Pulaos, biryani, and other special gravies. It imparts a delicate flavor to the dish.
It helps in curing rheumatism, helping in digestion and so on. The fruit is antibacterial, carminative, diuretic and stomachic. It is considered useful in flatulence and spasmodic.
It is used to flavor vegetables, meat, and marinate meat. It is used as a condiment for flavoring curries, confectionaries, spirits, and for pickling.
It is also used in perfumery. The essential oil of star anise is used to flavor soft drinks, bakery products, and liquors.

6. Ginger

Ginger is the most important spice. Ginger grown in Kerala is to be of very high quality. Both processed and raw ginger is high in demand and many tourists take it back to their homeland.

Uses

Ginger is used in food processing, for curried meats, cocktails, carbonated 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. It is used to made masala chai.
In medicine, it is used as carminative and stimulant. It has wider applications in indigenous medicines.
Ginger reduces all symptoms associated with motion sickness including dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and cold sweating.

7.Turmeric

turmeric-spices-of-kerala

Turmeric belongs to the ginger family. This plant is used in the dried or powdered form. It is a flavorsome spice.

Uses

It is known for its medicinal value, culinary uses and antioxidant properties. It is used in Ayurvedic medicines.
It is an essential spice for Indian cuisines. Turmeric is a spice used in curries. Turmeric is also used to add color in fruit drinks, cheese, and butter.
Turmeric is good for health. It is also a cleanser for the human body.
It is a good blood purifier. Turmeric is used in the manufacturing of cosmetics and used as a textile dye. Colour enhancer and Anti-Bacterial ingredient in different marinades.

8. Vanilla

It is one of the popular cash crops. In Kerala, Vanilla is cultivated in Wayanad, Idukki, and Ernakulam. Vanilla is mainly responsible for the fragrance, flavor, and aroma of vanilla essence. It has brought to the state by the west. Humid weather is ideal for Vanilla plantation. It is a member of orchid family. Three common types of Vanilla beans are Bourbon Madagascar, Mexican, and Tahitian. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice traded in the world market.

Uses

It is an important element in cakes, sweets, ice creams, milk, beverages, candies, confectioneries, and bakery items
It is used in pharmaceutical products. It is a subtle component of perfumes.

9. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner bark of trees scientifically known as Cinnamomum.

Cinnamon is grown in one or two locations in the state. This spice is light brown in color and is also milder in flavor in comparison to other spices. It has high in antioxidant activity and, it also has medicinal properties.

Uses

It is used in a number of dishes. The spice is also used for making spices as well as other perfumes and cosmetics.
It can be used for curing a number of ailments including nausea, sickness and so on. The delicate fragrance and agreeable taste, adds to the overall appeal of this particular spice.

10. Tamarind

tamarind-spices-of-kerala

Image courtesy: Pixabay
Tamarind is known as Indian Date. These spice trees grow excellently in tropical areas in Kerala. It is an important ingredient in a number of Asian and Latin American dishes.

Uses

The pulp is used in traditional medicine and as a metal polish.
Trees wood can be used for woodworking. Tamarind seed oil can be extracted from seeds.
Its tender young leaves are used in Indian cuisine. Tamarind is used in seafood, other non-vegetarian, cool drinks, snacks, desserts, and vegetarian dishes. It has medicinal and other uses also.To buy spices on line: