Spice Plantations In Kerala - Kerala Backwater takes you on tours of the Spice Plantations of Kerala. Kerala is known for its fabulous spices. Traders from ancient Phoenicia made tours to Kerala to carry back its aromatic spices to Mediterranean lands. Pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and more… the spices of Kerala were used in the West to all flavor to food and wine and to preserve meat during the cold European winter.

Spices can be defined as " aromatic substances of vegetable origin, used for flavoring food or as a preservative." Many spices are also known to have medicinal value, for instance turmeric is a known anti-oxidant and curry leaf can control prevent diabetes.

The East India Companies of various European powers - the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the English fought over possession of the trade routes and the precious spice plantations of Kerala. Today you can simply take a tour with Kerala Backwater and find yourself enjoying the hospitality of the spice plantations of Kerala on Kerala tours.

The spice plantations of Kerala are fascinating farms to wander in, for different sections of each plantation are dedicated to different spices. Apart from spices traditionally grown in India such as pepper, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom farmers in Kerala have taken to growing spices that are used worldwide. Some of the spices cultivated in spice plantations are vanilla, oregano, rosemary, thyme, basil, mint, bay leaf and sage.

Take a trip to the spice plantations of Kerala with Kerala Backwater and feel transported into a green paradise. Walk through the aromatic spice gardens where the air is laden with the fragrance of nature's bounty. Some spice plantations in Kerala offer tourists accommodation in the lodges and mansions on the plantation. Guest can stay with the plantations owner's family and enjoy home cooked traditional Kerala cuisine and witness the activities of the spice plantation. Go for nature walks and bird watching treks, wander through the plantations, taste the various spices and breathe in the fragrant air on Kerala tours of the spice plantations of Kerala with Kerala Backwater. The tranquil spice plantations of Kerala are a refreshingly different eco tourism option among Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.

plantations of Kerala, are:

Pepper plants:

The botanical name of the pepper plant is Piper nigrum. The plant is a climbing vine, which grows in tropical forests in the Malabar Coast of Kerala. Pepper grows around the year and requires the support of a tree or an artificial frame around which the green stem of the pepper plant entwines itself. The part of the pepper plant that is consumed is the fruit. The berries of the pepper plant are reddish green when unripe and become black when dried. These black berries are added whole or ground and used as flavoring and preservatives in food. When the black outer covering is removed and the berry is dried and processed white pepper is produced. The roots and vines of the pepper plant are also used for medicinal purposes. Pepper is used in the treatment of rheumatism.

Cardamom plants:

The botanical name of the cardamom plant is Elettaria cardamomum. The plant is an herb, which flourishes in tropical plantations in the Malabar Coast of Kerala. The fruit capsule that encloses the seeds of the Cardamom plant is dried and used as a spice. Cardamom oil is also used in toothpaste, perfumes, food preparations and medicines. Cardamom is eaten as a breath freshener and is added to tea and coffee for aroma and its medicinal properties.

Cinnamon plants:

The botanical name of the Cinnamon plant is Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Cinnamon is a bushy tree, grown in Kerala and other tropical regions of the world including Sri Lanka. The inner bark of the Cinnamon tree is removed and dried and used as a spice. The bark is usually stored in the shape of a roll or quill, to ensure its aroma is retained. The brown colored bark is easily chewable and is also used in powdered form as a flavoring agent in food and various beverages. It is often used in cakes and puddings because the pleasant aroma of cinnamon effectively conceals the smell of eggs used in these confections. Cinnamon oil, which is an essential oil, is also distilled and used as a flavoring agent and for medicinal uses. In Europe Cinnamon was used in religious rituals and in ancient Egypt it was sought after as a preservative in the embalming of mummies.

Ginger plants:

The botanical name of the Ginger plant is Zingiber Officianale. Ginger is an underground stem or rhizome. The part of the plant visible above ground consists of the stem and leaves. Ginger is usually sold as a fresh rhizome or as a dry rhizome. Ginger is also sold in powdered form to add to dishes for flavoring. Ginger has been used for centuries for it is believed to warm the body and is therefore used in the treatment of coughs and colds.

Vanilla plants:

The botanical name of the Vanilla plant is Vanilla planifolia or Vanilla tahitensis depending on whether it is a Vanilla plant of Mexican or Polynesian origin. The plant is a tropical climbing orchid, which is native to parts of Central America, Africa, including Madagascar and French Polynesia. It has introduced to the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India, and has flourished in the tropical climate here. The stem of the plant entwines itself around a tree or support and climbs upwards. The unripe fruit or seedpod of the Vanilla plant is harvested when it turns golden green in color and is about 8 inches long. The fresh seedpod has no fragrance. The characteristic fragrance of Vanilla develops as a result of processing, which includes exposure to heat and cold. The seedpods turn chocolate brown in color, after which they are left to dry for several months. The seedpods become covered with small crystals of vanillin, which is secreted by the fine hair in the lining of the seedpods. This vanillin gives off the distinctive aroma of vanilla. The seedpods are then crushed and vanilla is extracted for use as a flavoring agent in cookery and confectionery.

Nutmeg plants:

The botanical name of the Nutmeg tree is Myristica fragrans. The Nutmeg tree is a tropical evergreen tree, which was originally only found in the Spice Islands of Indonesia. Introduced to India by colonial traders, Nutmeg now grows abundantly in the spice plantations of Kerala. The Nutmeg tree can grow up to 20 meters. The Nutmeg fruit looks similar to an Apricot. When the fruit is ripe, it splits revealing a crimson seed cover and a brown seed. The seed cover is harvested and dried as the spice called Mace. The seed is gathered as Nutmeg. Its shell is broken and the Nutmeg kernels, which are grayish-brown, oval-shaped seeds, with rough surfaces, are collected. Nutmeg is powered and used to add flavor to many dishes and is also used in the perfume industry. Nutmeg also has medicinal properties and is used in the form of oil to treat rheumatism.