Origin of spice export in India


  

Let's indulge a little in the aromatic and spicy Indian spice history. As the home of spices, India’s spices were in great demand and hence a gold mine to other countries. Our trade history of spices began with the ancient civilization of China and Rome by trading cinnamon and black pepper. It is said that Romans valued expensive and rare commodities and our spices cost a pretty penny back then. During ancient times Indian spices were grown in small landholding which gradually gained prominence in the present with organic farming procedures. After Rome and China, it was the Portuguese who grabbed control of the Indian spice trade making an exceptional profit for themselves. Indian’s also use a wide variety of spices in their food and medicines. Hence India is the largest producer, exporter, and consumer of spices in the world. As known to every Tom, Dick, and Harry that India is the largest exporter of spices, we have the most sought-after spices globally producing the majority of the spices listed by the ISO or International Organization for Standardization.

 

Spice History of Kerala

 

Kerala is the spice garden of India as a leading producer of King and Queen of spices which are black pepper and cardamom respectively. God’s own country takes pride in its lushest greenery along with its soil of the hilly area and climatic conditions make it a heaven for the cultivation of spices. Kerala produces the majority of black pepper and cardamom in India along with other spices like turmeric, clove cinnamon, etc. Much before the trade began, their spice box was a treasure to every Kerala grandma. You would be carried away with the soulful fragrance of the spices in their food. Nothing compares to the burst of rich flavours in your mouth. The aroma is still strong that it would take you back to your childhood memories. They knew it all along and their traditionally passed on spice box says it all. With the arrival of Babylonians for spices, Kerala later witnessed the arrival of Arabs, Chinese, French, Portuguese, and British for the unmatched quality of spices. The ideal climatic condition is the reason for the quality of spices with rich flavour and aroma in the international market leading to exports to date.



 

Apart from the culinary speciality of spices in Kerala, it is also used to produce indigenous medicines, perfumes, and preservatives. Spices also help in digestion, prevention of diseases, and protection from bacteria. Hence three-fourths of exotic Indian spice exports are sourced from Kerala. Here are few spices listed which is exported from Kerala :

     Black pepper: King of spices thrives in Kerala due to the combination of hilly areas in Kerala and the climatic advantages. Tellicherry Extra Bold and the Malabar Garbled are two prominent varieties of pepper that are in demand in the international market.

     Cinnamon: It was exported from Kerala centuries back to Egypt for embalming the corpse of Pharaohs, perfume manufacture, and holy oils.

     Cardamom: It followed the route of the other two spices as Cardamom gained attention in the West. This is the Queen of spices making its way to drinks various food in India. It is highly-priced and exotic flourishing on the cool and shaded hill slopes of the Western Ghats in Kerala.

     Clove: It is a flavouring agent with has equal medicinal importance. Clove oil is used to treat toothache, acidity, and indigestion. This can be preserved for years if sealed in packs.

 

There are other spices like ginger, nutmeg, turmeric, etc which are also exported from Kerala. With a gist of the spice history of Kerala, let's check the top Spices Exporters in Kerala.

 

Who are the top spice exporters in Kerala?

 

Though India is the leading producer of spices, there has been an increase in the trend in recent years. As a front runner in the export of spices, listed below are the top five Spices Exporters in Kerala who are a part of this race:

  1. Kuruwa Enterprises: Situated in Kochi which is a significant spice trading location in history. They are evolving as leading Spices Exporters in Kerala. They mainly trade all grades of Pepper, Ginger, and Nutmegs. Popular for their sublime variations, they are notable in the spice industry. They use Grading machines, Vacuum packing machines, and has a processing plant to segregate and pack spices. With the handpicking methods used and tested in their laboratory, the quality they offer is guaranteed.

  2. Thottam Farm Fresh: As the name suggests they provide spices directly from the farm which are freshly plucked and of premium quality. Thottam Farm Fresh located in Angamaly, Kerala is the prominent Spices Exporters in Kerala who have earned their reputation with continued supply of fresh spices from their own plantations and sourcing it from farmers using organic cultivation process. They also encourage farmers to cultivate pure and natural spices with no tinge od pesticides to build a healthy society through their rich and pure spices. They are the leading exporter of coriander, fenugreek, dried ginger, turmeric powder, star anise, Brindleberry / Cambodge. They also export honey, coffee, and tea.

  3. Nice Natural Spices: Located in Kochi, they have been in the industry for over 40 years. Fresh spices are gathered, processed, and exported according to the grades they fall into. They export cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cardamom, black pepper, etc, as gift boxes too. They concentrate on whole spices which have a longer shelf life. 

  4. High range Spices: It is located in Idukki, with an experience of 31 years. They export cardamom and other spices that are grown in the high ranges of Idukki, Kerala. Quality is guaranteed as they source the spices directly for their own plantations. Their farmers follow GAP methods for cultivation. Their cardamom has a unique flavour, aroma, and colour due to the climate, soil, and rainfall in the slopping terrain gaining prominence in the cardamom industry.

  5. MAS Enterprises Ltd: They are also a leading cardamom exporter in India. As they are situated in India the climate and terrain are ideal for the highly flavorful and aromatic growth of cardamom. Their process starts with washing the spices plucked followed by dry cleaning, grading, handpicking, and packing. Other than whole spices like nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, etc, they also export masala mix, coffee, tea, and spice powders. They also market their own products and distribute them to other renowned manufacturers.

 


 

Is Thottam Farm Fresh a prominent newbie leading Spices Exporters in Kerala?

 

The answer is a massive yes. Passion is the driving force of Thottam Farm Fresh. They believe that a healthier and happy tummy leads to a healthier and happier world. This motto drives them to produce and export premium quality, nourished, and wholesome spices from their finest farmland to the rest of the world. Farming by passion yields supreme produce than farming considered as a mere business strategy. Natural spices bring out the unique flavour in your food which is guaranteed with all the spices from Thottam Farm Fresh. They thrive to not just be a brand but an ecosystem which aims at empowering Indian farmer, but Kerala for now as they are in their growing stage. They always hold tight to their three promises in every package which is healthy, pure, and wholesome making them one of the top spices exporters in Kerala.

 

 

 

 

 

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