Kerala is well known for spices, and its spice trade is very old. The European trade started when the Portuguese came to the Malabar Coast and Kerala in 1498.
Cardamom, pepper, cloves, turmeric and many other spices can be found growing in the wild at most places in Kerala. In the Western Gahts Mountains, there are whole spice plantations as well as tea and coffee plantations. These plantations are situated on the slopes of the mountains, and you see them from the road when when passing by. There are many places where you can stop for a guided tour of the plantations and where you can see for instance tea productions. A tea plant is harvested almost every fourthnight all year round and the plant is cut back to a hight of about 1.5 meters (5 feet) enabeling them to be harvested while people stand on the ground. A tea plant can get more than 100 years old, so once planted, future generations can also get the bennefit from harvesting the tea plant.
There are many spice markets in Kerala, some of the recommended ones are Broadway in Cochin and Chalai in Trivandrum, but ther are many other places where you can find the best quality spices from authorized spice centers. These places are famous for value-added spice products like curry masala powders, ready-to-use spice powders, spice essences, extracts, spiced teas and coffee. Rare spice oils and concentrates used as basis for perfume and scents can also be found.
Many outlets sell unique natural cosmetic powders like mango, orange and papaya peel powder, turmeric powder. These and other spices, herbal powders and natural extracts are good for making face and body cleansing powders and soaps. Lemongrass oil is famous for its rare sent, but it can also be used on the skin to discourage mosquitos. There are more than a dozen oils in Kerala, famous for maintaining a healthy skin glow and reducing blemishes and acne.
Kerala is famous for its coconuts; in fact Kerala means land of coconuts. Keralites put coconut into a multitude of varying uses. Coconut oil is good to keep hairfall under control and nature hair as well as promoting a healthy glowing skin. Coconut oil is also used as a high temperature cooking oil and scrapped powder and coconut milk is used in many local cooking styles. Roasted oil and virgin coconut oil are known to reduce cholesterol and are popular for good health. It is also used by expecting mothers for keeping their baby healthy.
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