Sourcing Spices from Kerala: pepper, cardamom, more

The spice coast

Kerala is the origin that built the spice trade. Its humid Western Ghats climate suits the perennial spices, and Kochi remains a historic pepper and cardamom auction benchmark. A Kerala sourcing programme centres on black pepper, green cardamom, ginger, turmeric and curry leaf.

What Kerala does best

• —Black pepper: Malabar Garbled (MG1) at around 500 to 550 g/l bulk density, and premium Tellicherry Garbled Extra Bold (TGEB) at 550+ g/l
• —Green cardamom: graded 6mm, 7mm, 8mm and AGEB bold, auction-priced with no fixed rate
• —Turmeric: the Alleppey-type finger grade (4 to 6 percent curcumin) is associated with the region
• —Ginger and curry leaf for both culinary and extraction demand

Grades and how to specify pepper and cardamom

Pepper is specified on bulk density and cleanliness: MG1 around 500 to 550 g/l is the workhorse, while Tellicherry (TGEB) at 550+ g/l is the premium bold berry. Cardamom is graded on size (6mm through AGEB) and, crucially, is auction-priced, so there is no fixed price to quote; you buy against the prevailing auction level and the grade you specify.

Watch the GI facts

Provenance claims need care. The Alleppey Geographical Indication is the green cardamom, not turmeric; "Alleppey finger" turmeric is a traded grade, not a GI. Verify any GI before you rely on it, because some Indian spice GI registrations have lapsed on the register.

How YouPals helps

YouPals is a sourcing desk and owns no facility. For Kerala lines we shortlist CRES-registered exporters, specify pepper on bulk density and cardamom on size grade, and, because cardamom is auction-priced, keep you aligned to the prevailing auction level. We coordinate steam treatment and lab testing at vetted third parties and verify any GI or grade claim before it reaches your paperwork.

Frequently asked

Is "Alleppey finger" turmeric a GI from Kerala?

No. Alleppey finger is a traded turmeric grade, not a GI. The Alleppey Geographical Indication is the green cardamom. Verify any GI claim against the registry before relying on it.

How is Kerala cardamom priced?

Green cardamom is auction-priced with no fixed rate. You buy against the prevailing auction level and the size grade you specify (6mm through AGEB bold).