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Idukki - Spice World |
 Kerala's
history is closely linked with its commerce, which in
turn was wholly dependent until recent times on its
spice trade. Kerala was known for its spices and travellers
around the world journeyed here to trade and to gain
control over this rich land. It is believed that the
spice trade dates back to three thousand years. Pepper
still remains the king of Kerala's spices, but the state
also has a very rich produce in cardamom, cinnamon ,
nutmeg, mace, ginger and turmeric. As in the past ,
the state continues to be the spice capital of the world.
Over twelve varieties of spices, including ginger, garlic,
cardamom, vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, coffee, tea, clove
and nutmeg are cultivated in Idukki and the surrounding
areas.
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Cardamom
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Scientific
Name: Elletteria Cardamom -
Best altitude for cultivation : 1500 m above see level.
Temperature : 10 - 25°C. Rainfall required. 1500
mm. Propagation : Seedlings and vegetative propagation.
Pollinating agent : The honey bee. Harvest season :
October to February. |
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Vanilla |
 Scientific
Name : Vanilla Fragrans - Rainfall
Required : 1500 - 3000 mm Propagation : Shoot cutting.
Pollination: Artificial.
The rostellum of the flower is pushed back with a pointed
bamboo splinter and the overhanging anther is pressed
against the stigma with the thumb, thus smearing pollen
over it. The ideal time for pollination is 0600 to 1300
hrs.
A tropical orchid requires a warm climate with frequent
rains; Vanilla grows best in uncleared jungle areas
where it can get filtered sunlight. A creeper, the plant
requires support up to a height of about 135 cm. The
plant usually begins to flower by the third year. The
bean takes 10 to 12 months to reach full maturity.
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Pepper |
Scientific
Name : Piper Nigrum -
Temperature : Tolerance -10° C to 40° C. Optimum
-20°C to 30°C. Rainfall required : 2500 mm.
Propagation : Stem cutting. Important varieties : Panniyur
-1, Karimunda, Kuthiravally, Arakkulam Munda, Balankotta
and Kalluvally.
 The
pepper plant grows best in a warm and humid climate.
Berries mature and are ready for harvest in about 180
to 200 days. Black pepper is produced by sun drying
the mature pepper berries for 3 - 5 days after they
are separated from the spikes by threshing and white
pepper by retting mature berries in clean water for
5 - 7 days, removing the outer skin and drying the seed
after thorough washing. |
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Clove |
Scientific
Name : Eugenia Caryophyllus -
Clove trees begin to bear flowers 7-8 years after planting.
Unopened flower buds are carefully picked when they
turn from green to pink. The buds are then allowed to
dry for 4-5 days till they become crisp and dark brown
in colour. |
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Cinnamon |
Scientific
Name : Cinnamon Zeylanicum -
Cinnamon plants are ready for harvest about 3 years
after planting. Harvesting is done twice year - in May
and November. The bark of the cut down shoots is split
on the day of harvest itself and dried in the sun for
2 - 5 days. The dry quills or bark are packed in bundles
for trade. Leaves and tender twigs are used for extraction
of oil by distillation. |
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Nutmeg |
 Scientific
Name : Myristica Fragrans -
The Nutmeg tree bears fruit throughout the year, but
peak harvest season is from December to May. The nuts
split open when the fruits are fully ripe. After dehusking,
the red feathery aril (mace) is removed, flattened out
and dried in the sun for 10 - 15 days. The nuts are
dried separately for 4 - 8 weeks till the kernels rattle
within the shells. |
| Spice
Dealers Of Thekkady |
| Name |
Address |
M.
V. T Spices
(Department Store & Tea Merchant) |
Lourdes
Centre, Thekkady Jn., Kumily.
Tel : 91-486-922076 |
| Shiny
Spices |
K.
K. Road, Kumily, Idukki
Pin : 685 509
Tel : 91-486-922120 |
| Thekkady
Spices |
K.
K. Road, Kumily, Idukki
Pin : 685 509
Tel : 91-486-922155
Fax : 91-486-922152 |
| Lotus
Spices |
Thekkady
Tel. : 91-486-322679
Fax : 91-486-322192
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| Rolex
Spices |
Thekkady
Road, Kumily.
Tel : 91-486-922081 |
| Nature
Spices |
Kumily
- 685 509
Tel : 91-486-922155 |
| Kerala
Spices Centre |
Kumily
Tel : 91-486-922201
Website : http://www.idukki.com/keralaspices |
| Spice
House |
Thekkady
Road, Kumily
Tel : 91-486-922760 |
| J.
J. Ninja Spices |
Thekkady
Road, Kumily |
| New
Kerala Spices |
Kumily
Tel : 91-486-922102 |
| Leena
Spices |
Kumily |
| Spices
Garden |
Near
Spice Village, Thekkady |
| Greenland
Spices |
Thekkady
Road, Kumily
Tel : 91-486-922146 |
| Hill
Top |
Kumily |
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