Spices were discovered by humans centuries ago. The earliest pharmacopeia and classic Ayurvedic texts mention and use spices in abundance in their concoctions and medicines. For centuries spices have been a part of food and food preservation across the world. There was a time when the peppercorns from India were valued at much higher prices than their weight in gold in European cities.
Indian spices were preferred for flavoring and preserving meat products in countries with cold climates.
Spices and herbal flavors have always been a part of the cuisine in Kerala for as long as recorded history. The fame and demand for Kerala spices grew exponentially. Traders from across the globe made their way to the shores of Kerala and led to the discovery of shorter and safer sea routes to India and it’s Southern State – Kerala. It did not take long for the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Dutch and later the British to set off to this beautiful land.
Today the spices that grow in abundance in the Munnar region of Kerala are enjoying a rise in demand and production. The salubrious climate, the monsoon rains, the rich soil and the dedicated farmers who have been planting and harvesting spices for centuries as a family tradition has led to the production of spices that are unmatched in quality and richness anywhere in the world. The spices grown in the Munnar region of Kerala have a higher piquancy, taste, and richness that are unmatched. No wonder the demand from the best food products manufacturing companies and the markets across the world has grown rapidly.
Modern planting, rearing and harvesting methods have ensured higher yield and quality of the spices. The new methods of drying, storing, sorting and packing have led to the consistent and superior quality of spices. Spices are commercial commodities and play an integral role in international trade between India and the world. The farming and cultivation of spices have been converted into a fine art by the spice farmers of Kerala, especially in the Munnar region. It is a rich and rewarding crop which requires knowledge and patience along with constant care and attention. No wonder, the spices of Kerala and Munnar region are reining the world today.