The story of Indian Spices is an ever-changing history of lands discovered or destroyed, favors sought or offered, treaties signed or broken, wars won or lost, and kingdoms built or brought down. For Europe, spices were the envoys from enchanted orient. From ancient times, the monsoon soaked rain forests of Kerala, home to several spices, became a prime destination for many explorers.

Nomadic Arabs and ancient Phoenicians were among the first who came to Kerala for trade. The Arabs gained control of the lucrative spice trade by 600 B.C. In 1498, Portugal’s fortunes rose when Vasco da Gama rounded Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and reached the southwestern shores of India. As they landed on the shores of Kerala, the men shouted "for Christ and spices!" They had arrived at the very heart of spice country.

Vasco da Gama’s rival, Columbus, went in the opposite direction, via the west, in search of pepper. And when he landed in the then unknown Americas, his enthusiasm to convince his king, as well as himself, that he has succeeded in his mission led him to name the natives Indians and their chili peppers “red pepper”; two unintended mistakes that have confused people to this day.

Today Kerala Spices hold the same spell. An unmistakable feature of Kerala Food is the endless possibilities available for flavoring. Spices differentiate one dish from another and they define flavors and intensify tastes. The characters of most spices are adaptable, it depends on when during the cooking process they are added, and how they are integrated in a dish. I invite you to explore this spice box, symbol of our culture and heritage.