Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), which is used for flavoring food items was introduced to India from Europe. The leaves are used as vegetable. Dried seeds, fruits and oil extracted are all used as flavoring agents for meat, fish, vegetable preparations and alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.

The fruits are cut along with the stem and then spread on a mat for sun-drying. The fennel seeds are separated from the stems.

Fennel is also used as a medicine. Fennel stimulates lactation.

Foeniculum vulgae belongs to the plant family Umbelliferae.

Nutmeg is a strongly aromatic spice, grown abundantly throughout Kerala. This tree was introduced in India by British East India Company during days of colonial rule.

The trees grow to about 20 meters height. The fruit is perfectly globular and lightly colored. When ripe, the fruit splits open to reveal a thickly black seed, which is covered with patchy red skin. The shell of the seed is broken to collect the kernels, which are grayish and oval. It has strong aroma and is used in different culinary preparations and in the manufacturing of perfumes.

Known as the king of spices for many hundreds of years, pepper (piper nigrum) is a trademark spice product of Kerala, which is exported to almost all parts of the world.

Pepper vines are usually seen climbing a support tree using special roots that emerges at roots. The only function of the roots is to allow the plant to clasp to the tree.

Spikes of fruits appear among thick foliage. Pepper is harvested when fruits at the time fruits begin to turn ripened. The appearance of two or three red fruits among the spikes marks the time for harvesting.

Both black pepper and white pepper are from the same plant. In white pepper, the skin and fruit is removed by soaking the fruits in warm water and then placing it in a strong current of water. Black pepper simply states that it is simply dried after harvesting.

Pepper is an important ingredient for a large number of culinary preparations.

Pepper also has medicinal value and is used in Ayurvedic medicines. Siddha and Unani, other two medicinal forms of India also see pepper as an effective cure for a variety of conditions like constipation, tastelessness, diarrhea, insomnia, liver problems, tooth decay, etc.

Pipper nigrum belongs to the family piperaceae.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is both a medicine and a condiment for confectionaries.

Peppermint appears as small bushy plants of 2-3 ft height. The plant is propagated mainly by planting underground runners in plant bed. Over a year or two the plant spreads to the area. The leaves and tips are cut and dried.

Propagation of peppermint is mainly by running roots, which produce erect, branched stems of 15-25 inches. The leaves have sharply toothed fringes.

Tiny, pale purple flowers circle the stem at nodes, above leaves giving it an appearance of thick spikes. The leaves and tops are collected immediately after it starts blooming.

The leaves provide an extract of pleasant flavor that is used in meat preparations, tea, and different drinks. It is also aromatic and used in mouthwash liquids, chewing gum, etc.

Mentha Piperita belongs to the family Laminaceae (mint family).

Tamar is an Arabian word which means date and tamarind literally means date of India. Reference of this plant in pea family to date is quite fascinating as one will find precious little connections between the two.

Though imported to India from Africa a long time ago, tamarind is an important spice in homes across south India, especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Tamarind is a tree in leguminosae family that grows more than 20 meters in height and with a thick network of strong branches. The fruit appears as 10-15 cm long pods. Inside the outer shell like skin is a brownish, acidic, soft pulp which bears five to 15 seeds. Tartaric acid gives the sour taste to the pulp.

The pulp forms major ingredient for fish preparations, curries, and dishes. It also forms part of different beverages.

The pulp also has cleaning properties. Apply the pulp as paste over any hard surface like metals. Wipe it off after half an hour and you can see the surface sparkling.

Begin the day with a hot cup of tea – this is the common practice of majority of people in Kerala and India. There are also people that prefer coffee as their preferred wakeup beverage. The high ranges of Kerala greet visitors with unending strips of tea plantations.

Camellia Sinensis or the tea plant is cultivated in almost all the high ranges of Kerala, from Ponmudi in Thiruvanathapuram to the Munnar in Idukki district. Tata Tea, a subsidiary of Tata Group used to own 27 tea estates out of total 30. Now Tata has divested stocks and a few of the estates have gone to the hands of other entrepreneurs.

Like coffee, tea is also a source of caffeine. Young leaves of the tea – usually three leaves with bud are collected and send to a furnace for roasting and processing. The most common type produced here is black tea, which is the choice of most tea lovers. The tea leaves are first fermented and then roasted for oxidation. Green tea comes without roasting, which is now gaining popularity because of its perceived resistance against cancer growth.

Tea plucking is the most common source of employment for people of high mountain ranges of Kerala. A walk through tea plantations is always refreshing and rejuvenating.

Vanilla is a relatively new entrant to Kerala farms. Vanilla rooted in Kerala in late 19th century, but now is cultivated widely in central Kerala and high ranges of Kerala.

Vanilla is a perennial vine with long fleshy leaves. It climbs trees with its adventitious roots. The plants are big and fragrant. Pollination is artificial, where anthers are mechanically cut and pasted on stigma to facilitate fruiting.

The fruits are harvested when they split in two. The fragrant beans are collected and exposed to sun for about 10 days until it turns light brown.

Vanilla is used worldwide as a favorite flavor for sweetened food items, especially ice-cream. Perfume industry also makes use of vanilla.

Turmeric is used as both a coloring agent and as a flavor for different culinary preparations, almost all of meat and vegetable preparations in India.

The plant appears more or less like ginger, with underground stem and aerial leaves. The plant can grow as large as one meter.

Before harvesting, the whole aerial parts start drying. The rhizomes are boiled and dried for 10-15 days before proceeding to market.

Turmeric can be said as a unique plant because of its ability to morph into a spice, a colorant or dye, a cosmetic (women and children apply turmeric paste on their face for a natural glow) and as a medicine (in Ayurveda it is used as a carminative, vermicide, antiseptic and blood purifier).