Kochi was regarded as the spice capital of India. In the Jew Town area of Mattancherry, warehouses like the Ginger Palace still sell spices to visitors to the area. Pepper, ginger, turmeric and essential oils were traded for many centuries here.
Kochi is also the capital of Kerala. It serves as the gateway to the famous backwaters of Kerala, where multitudes of houseboats ply the waterways criss-crossing the patchwork of paddy fields found here.
Kochi was the spice capital of India from the 14th century. It was occupied by the Portuguese in 1503 and subsequently by the Dutch and the British. Even so, it remained the center for spice trade for many centuries, which includes pepper, ginger, turmeric and essential oils.
In the Jew Town area of Mattancherry, one can find spice warehouses, auction rooms and shops selling spice like this one in the image. Sacks of dried spices are laid on the floor while plastic-packed spices are laid on the tables and hung from the strings.
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