JudyMartha
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| Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:48 am Kerala and its Exotic Spices |
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A Travel to Kerala will inevitably involve an introduction and savor of its exotic spices. The story of Kerala’s spices dates back to many thousands of years into the past. Kerala’s claim to fame in the ancient world rested mainly with her fabulous riches derived from her total monopoly over spices.
The ancient port of Musiris was the center of the world trade many decades age – the spice trade being central to its legendary fame. It can be said that the Western colonization itself was the outcome of the race to control the spice trade from Kerala. Vasco Da Gama’s Arrival was just the culmination of the rush of the West to find the sea route to the Indies and its spices trade.
Within the last decade, the international trade in spices has grown tremendously to an estimated 500,000 tons of spices and herbs valued at more than 1500 million US dollars. It is a matter of pride for the tiny state of Kerala that the bulk of this trade is still from Kerala. Some spices that have made Kerala a household name in the world of spices are cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, turmeric, clove, ginger, nutmeg and tamarind. |
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