I had no idea that when I planned to come to Kerala instead of Goa or Sri Lanka what I would be in for. Kerala is famous for cash crops like coconut, pineapple, rubber, tea, coffee, pepper, cardamom, areca nut, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon etc. and food crops like paddy (rice) and tapioca which gives the agricultural sector of Kerala a distinct flavor. The agricultural climatic conditions in Kerala suits the cultivation of a variety of seasonal and perennial crops as well. From some of these crops they are making cooking oils, fragrance/essential oils, wine type fermented products and other end user items.
When I first got here I went with Linda, my host to the Ernakulum market. It looks just as it is in this video. I was amazed at the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables and how inexpensive they are. The market has everything you can possibly think of needing/wanting. From fresh fish and meats to grains and rice and cooking equipment. Ernakulum market is also a wholesale hub for the region. When you see these small carts selling fruits and vegetable in the small villages, those vegetables most likely came from this market. I explored all the markets where ever I was staying. Rishikesh was a beautiful marketplace too but nothing came close to what I’ve experienced here in Ernakulum. I learned about so many new products and ingredients.
Once I experienced this market my interest in the area grew and I wanted to experience more. I took a sightseeing ride into the hills about 150km from Fort Kochi for the day to see the damage from the flooding a couple months ago and the beauty of the land. Kerala was really hurt by all the rain and flooding and is just recovering. Tourism in the area is down and people are really hurting because of it. I’m here just before the season really starts and you can see people trying to fix things, so they can open up their shops, etc. Where I am staying in Fort Kochi has recovered pretty well… in the smaller villages in the hills, not so much. What I realized is that I wasn’t so interested in all the sightseeing like the palaces, dams, waterfalls, butterfly gardens and I wanted to see more of what the people were doing to make a living around agricultural production, fish farming, how they process some of the raw materials into quality products and the preparation and cooking of these items. Then I got this idea…. I was going to design a cultural and culinary tour of Kerala so people could really see, feel and experience the wealth of the area in terms of agriculture, food and products. Linda and Nayab were both excited to participate in designing this program as well.
I decided to spend a few extra days here in Kochi so I could see and experience more of the culinary aspects of the region. There is a big fishing industry here and went to one of the fish auctions. They grow a lot of coconut here and went to two coconut oil factories. There is one of the largest pineapple distribution markets in Asia and went there. Kerala has a very progressively managed tea plantation. Spice farms where they grow cinnamon, cardamom, chilis, ginger, nutmeg/mace, cloves, black pepper and other spices. Did you know you can make a fermented beverage called “toddy” from the flower sap of palm trees? Rubber, palm tree and banana plantations. Sandalwood trees that are used to make sandalwood oil… a government run entity here. Paddy fields filled with many different varieties of rice. Other things Kerala is growing are cashews, coconut, vanilla, cassava, mango and jackfruit. I still haven’t seen it all. I would need a month here and even then, there are things that I wouldn’t see because certain products have their harvest times.
Linda has included me in all the cooking here. She cooks every day. I even invited to take her out for a meal and she prefers to cook at home, so I go to the market with her to buy all the food she will allow me to purchase without making her too uncomfortable. I have a notebook full of recipes that use many different ingredients that I have never heard of before. I have become the student here in India and one of my hopes is that I can continue to be the student and keep learning from my experiences and all whom I come in contact with.
I sent a package back home full of spices, teas, coffee and essential oils that I cannot get back in the states so I can share it with you all. I am also looking forward to putting the finishing touches on this cultural and culinary tour to share with others who would appreciate this kind of experience. I’m happy to share whatever I can, please ask.
Leave a Reply