Exploring India’s spice route: A thousand-flavour journey through Kerala • FRANCE 24 English

[Music] From green hills to calm rivers and lagoons, this ancient trail has stood for centuries. Once followed by spice traders, today it welcomes travelers from around the world. Carola’s famous spice route is a journey through history full of color and flavor. High in the mountains, this couple has chosen Carerala as their honeymoon destination. Is it ginger? Ginger. Did you know it’s a root? Uh, yes. You’ll like it. It smells amazing. In the spice garden, they discover new tastes and aromas. A real test for their taste buds. It’s a little spicy. We’re starting to get used to it, but we’re getting used to it. From cinnamon and turmeric to nutmeg, the garden is bursting with over 30 different spices. The powder we are using as a spice after it’s really interesting because these are spices we use almost every day. But now we see that pepper is a vine, ginger is a root. It’s fascinating. [Music] Kerala is India’s largest spice producer, attracting buyers from across the globe. From the mountains, the harvest travels down winding roads to the sea, then makes its way to markets worldwide. [Music] One of the most prized spices is cardamom. If the tip breaks, it can’t be used. So, you have to be very careful and meticulous. But I’m so proud to do this work. Known as the queen of spices, cardamom is handpicked in a humid climate away from the sunlight. Here in the mountains, it’s cool. The temperature stays below 21°, which is perfect for growing cardamom. The pods only release their full flavor after drying in ovens heated to 70°. [Applause] That’s when they develop their unique lemony taste. Here she is, the queen of spices. Cardamom is used as medicine, as perfume, in cooking. In India, almost every dish has a bit of cardamon in it. For centuries, these flavors have followed the same path all the way to the shores of the Arabian Sea and the port of Kochi. In the historic old town, spices have been traded since ancient times. keeping this thousand-year-old heritage alive. Smell this is dried ginger and for tourists it’s the best kind of souvenir of the the green pepper. You’ll get the white color inside and then it will be dried under sambar masala in England is just hot and all you feel is pain whereas here it’s be you know that you can get a mix of the taste can’t you? In the past, spices were loaded onto bamboo boats. They traveled across this vast network of canals, lined with rice patties and coconut trees. Today, those same boats carry tourists and even host floating restaurants. I mix turmeric, coriander, and chili powder. This chef has been cooking on the water for 3 years. He’s preparing a local favorite. Fish marinated in spices, then fried with fresh herbs. Whatever curry we make, the smell of cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon gives it a special energy. The dishes are then enjoyed by travelers like this Indian family taking in the view of the lagoon. The food is great. I think few is what makes it better. We cannot imagine having tasty food without a little bit of at least a little bit of spice in it. And while the boat continues its journey along the river, the spices move on carrying the flavors of Kerala to the world.

The state of Kerala, in southern India, is home to the country’s most famous spice route. From the hills where the spices are grown to the ports where they’re shipped across the world, we take you on a journey through the colours, flavours and traditions of this timeless trade. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24’s Guillaume Gougeon.
#India #spiceroute #Kerala

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27 comments

  7. The narrator never mentioned these spices is the reason , India was occupied by east India company and British ruled India for next 100 years

  13. Ancient Roman empire and greeks trade with ancient India in gold for the spices because they don't have any valuable product which are at the same league with spices.

  17. Tourist dollars really destroy the authenticity of any location.Everything becomes mass produced and over commercialized, also illegal industries like prostitution and drugs become rampant.Its disgusting.

  20. Silk Road is so much hyped in popular history but it is nothing compared to what spice routes of Indian Ocean were.
    We being land species often see naval connection as modern phenomenon, in reality india was more connected to the rest of world through these spice routes.

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