Tag Archives: Thekkady

A Lonely Tree at the Crest

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The hills around Thekkady, Kerala provide spectacular views of the landscape and sunsets. Will be posting views from these hills in the next few weeks.

Here is an image of a lonely tree at the crest of the brown mountain with greenery in the foreground and white clouds against a blue sky in the background.

A Lonely Tree at the Crest

A Lonely Tree at the Crest

Fruits of Thekkady – Jack fruit

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Jack fruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world — one fruit can weigh between 10 and 100 pounds and contain hundreds of seeds that are rich in protein, potassium, calcium, and iron — all of which are important for bodily growth.

Jack fruit tree is mostly seen in Kerala. This fruit is large and fleshy and covered with thorny tubercles. Unripe fruit can be cooked. The seeds may be boiled or baked. There are a number of varieties of Jack fruits the honey-jack is considered the sweetest and the best in its family. The flesh is starchy and fibrous and provides energy. Jack fruit tree is used in the treatment of various diseases such as diarrhea, and skin disease, urinary retention and general weakness. The timber of the tree is used for making furniture as it is termite-proof.

Jackfruits

Jack fruit

Spices of Thekkady – Cardamom

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A cardamom plant normally starts bearing fruit from the third year of planting. The harvested fruits are rubbed on wire mesh and polished before they are graded and stored in polythene gunny bags to retain the green color and to avoid exposure to moisture. There are numerous cardamom plantations around Thekkady, Kerala.

Cardamom Plant

Cardamom Plant

Cardamom Pods at Bottom of Plant

Cardamom Pods at Bottom of Plant

Spices of Thekkady – Pepper

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Kerala history is closely linked with its commerce, which in turn was wholly dependent until recent times on its spice trade. Kerala was known for its spices and traders traveled here to trade and to gain control over this rich land. It is believed that the spice trade dates back three thousand years. Pepper still remains the king of Kerala’s spices, but the state also has a very rich produce in cardamom, cinnamon , nutmeg, ginger and turmeric. The state is the spice capital of the world. Over twelve varieties of spices including ginger, garlic, cardamom, vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, coffee, tea, clove and nutmeg is cultivated in Thekkady and its neighboring villages.

The pepper plant grows best in a warm and humid climate. Berries mature and are ready for harvest in about 180 to 200 days. Black pepper is produced by sun drying the mature pepper berries for 3 – 5 days after they are separated from the spikes by threshing, and white pepper by wetting mature berries in clean water for 5 – 7 days, removing the outer skin and drying the seed after thorough washing.

Peppercorns

Peppercorns