VirtualTourist Member Justin_goa
| Page Views: 13,283 | Malabar, the Original Pepper Land by Justin_goa - last update: Nov 24, 2008 |
Malabar coast ( The south West Coast of India) Malabar the original land of pepper, fascinated travallers and explorers from time immemorial. When Columbus set out for a new sea route to procure Pepper, the Malabar coast was his destination. Ironically he landed in America and took home a native berry mistaking it as only to taste the scourge of the merchants of Venice.
The Portugese seafarer Vasco Da Gama succeeded in reaching the coast and Portugal dictated the price of spices trade and the economy of Europe for over two centuries.
The Legendary traveler Marco Polo and Ibn Batuta were among the multitudes lured by the riches of Malabar Coast. The time transcending tradition of hospitality and heritage still prevails.. |
The lores of yore Many an interesting turning point in history is attributed to a thin, well rounded berry called 'Pepper' One of the oldest spices known to mankind, it holds a recorded history dating back to 1000BC. Empires fell under it's spell. Aristocrats prided it. War mongers fought for it. And civilians coveted it. Credited as the pepper land, Malabar was the cynosure of the spice trade, putting wind into sails of Babylonians, Phoenicians, Chinese, Romans, Arabs, Portugese,Dutch and English. There are many stories laced with the romance and regalia of pepper and Malabar. They are part of legend, part myth and mostly history...* |
The trade with Rome In the first century AD, a plucky Greek merchant sailor discovered the secret of the monsoon winds and by timing his voyages was able to cut the trip from the Mediterranean to India from two years to one.
Roman traders followed his example and soon became India's best customers. Many exotic spices became Roman staples, but none was used more frequently than pepper. While the Greeks preferred their pepper for medicinal purposes (endorsed by Hippocrates, no less), the Romans went wild for the spice in their food. A special spice market was built in the city and its most prominent street was Via Piperatica—Pepper Street. Pepper was the first spice to make its way into Northern Europe as the Roman Empire spread. When the tables turned and the marauding Visigoths threatened Rome in its decline, huge amounts of pepper were uses to buy off the offenders who had developed a taste for the spice. When Rome fell, the supply of pepper to northern Europe skidded to a halt. It took the monumental force of the crusades to crack open the trade between north and south; and as pepper regained its popularity in Europe, merchants and traders began to seek improved means to supply the ensuing demand.
Today pepper is still the king of spices, and accounts for one quarter of all modern spice trade. Its ability to subtly enliven foods without overpowering their flavour makes it indispensable in cuisines around the world. From the common pepper shaker to pricey upscale grinders with multicolor peppercorns, it is hard to imagine cooking without this spice. You may not pay your rent with it, but the hottest thing in your spice cabinet is certainly nothing to sneeze at.* |
Pepper stories..... Alaric, the Visigoth warrior put Rome under siege during the 4th century. All he demanded was a mere 3000 pounds of Pepper!!!!
The destination of Columbus' first voyage was Malabar Coast, but he landed in America instead. Later Vasco Da Gama succeeded in reaching the coast and reward was trade monopoly of pepper and predomination in Europe to Portugal for the next two hundred years.....
In ancient Rome, those who seasoned their food with pepper were held in awe by both Patricians and Plaebians. Those who possessed pepper grew in stature and prospered.
When the court nobles complained to King Zamorin of Calicut that the entourage of Vasco Da Gama is taking sapplings of pepper to Venice with them, the king quipped, they couldn't take along our monsoon.....so don't bother!! ( the rains fall in mid june causes the pollination)
A pound of pepper was all that you needed to trade in for a sheep in medieval Europe.!!
During the period of crusades when spice caravans came to grinding hald and Arab traders withdrew from the Venetian market which caused the price of Pepper rose to more than it's weight in Gold!!!
The Pepper comes from the Sanskrit word Pippali, which is the name of the long pepper, now never seen in Europe.
The finest quality of pepper still grows in thei highlands of Malabar ( just few hrs drive from Calicut, in Kerala) which is called Karimundi, locally by the tribals, means 'Black Midget'...
Maco Polo marvelled at the people of a Malabar hamlet who consumed three tonnes of pepper a day... you may take it with a pinch of salt.
There was a time when Pepper was used in place of money. It was smaller and lighter than the yello metal. Hence it was called 'Black Gold'
The Hindu epic 'Vedas' refers to the use of spices in flavouring 'Pilaf rice'..
Long before refrigerators and other sophisticated preservative agents, it was pepper which prevented meat from decaying.
The old testament suggests that Solomon's great wealth was partly due to the spice trade. The reference of 'Odhu' a land far away where they traded for Spices, Ivory and Peacock, during Circa 926 BC is the Malabar Coast.
St. Thomas first set foot in Malabar in Circa 52 AD, when christianity was unheard of in Europe... |
Facts about Pepper Description
Black Pepper is the dried mature berry of Piper nigrum, a climbing, perennial shrub mostly found in hot, moist region of Southern India. Under cultivation pepper vines are trailed over support as columns, 5-6 mtr tall, 1-2 meter diameter. The climbing woody stems have swollen nods with clinging roots at each node, which helps in anchoring the vine to the support trees (standards). It has straight upward growing main stem and have lateral shoots from the axils of the leaves having shorter inter nodes without adventitious roots. In such branches the terminal buds get modified into an inflorescence (spike) and the auxiliary buds continue further growth.
The root system confined to 75-100 cm radius and depth. The inflorescence is a pendent spike, 3-15 cm long with 50-150 flowers. Flowers are minute, white pale yellow, arranged spirally on fleshy pedantries. The specie is naturally self-pollinated and pollen dispersal is aided by the presence of water droplets. Fruit is a single seeded drupe often called berry. It is spherical in shape, green in colour, changing to red on ripping.
Origin and Distribution
Pepper is considered originated in the hills of South Western Ghats of India. It is now grown in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brazil, Mexico, and Guatemala apart from the country of origin.
Pepper requires hot and humid climate and grows between 20 degree North and South latitudes, from sea level to up to 1500 meters above MSL. The crop tolerates temperatures between 10 degree and 40 degree C. A well-distributed annual rainfall of 125 to 200 cm is considered ideal for pepper.
Uses
Pepper is largely used by meat packers and in canning, pickling, baking, considering for its preservative value. It has the ability to correct the seasoning of dishes, therefore used as a final dash at the end of cooking to effectively adjust the flavour. It is an important component of culinary seasoning of universal use and is an essential ingredient of numerous commercial foodstuffs. It is also used as an ingredient in spice mixes. White pepper is used in products like mayonnaise where, black specks of black pepper is not liked.
Other products in use are pepper oil, oleoresin, micro encapsulated pepper, green pepper in brine, dehydrated green pepper, frozen pepper etc.
Black pepper is an essential ingredient in Indian system of medicine. Piperine, the pungent principle in pepper oleoresin helps to enhance bio-availability and therefore used in pharmaceuticals. The major functional properties of pepper are analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial.
Name in international languages
Spanish : Pimienta
French : Poivre
German : Pfeffer
Swedish : Peppar
Arabic : Filfil Aswad
Dutch : Peper
Italian : Pepe
Portuguese : Pimenta
Russian : Pyerets
Japanese : Kosha
Chinese : Hu-Chiao
Pilipino : Paminta
Hebrew : Pilpel
Croat : Papar
Serb : Biber
Albanese : Pipper
Greek : Pipperi
Swedish : Peppar
Finnish : Pippuri
Hindi : Kali Mirchi Courtesey of Vt'er Rischard
Urdu : SIAH MIRCH Courtesey of Vt'er Rischard
Turkish : KARA BIBER Courtesey of Vt'er Rischard
Chinese : (Hokkien) in Penang or Singapore is Oh -chiou (black) and
pek chiou (white) Courtesey of Vt'er borneo60
Maltese: Bzar (Courtsey : SanguiniA VT'er)
Welsh : Pupur' (pronounced 'pip-eerr'; Courtsey : aaaarrgh VT'er)
Romanian : PIPER (Courtsey : Anca VT'er)
Danish : Pebe (Courtsey : OH_DK VT'er)
Bulgarian: Cheren Piper (Courtsey : desert_princess VT'er)
Malaysian: Lada hitam (Black Pepper)Lada putih (white pepper) Courtsy: dmirebella VT'er
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Wayanad, The original Pepperland Wayanad is one of the smallest states in the state of Kerala, tucked away high on the western ghats of the Nilgiri Bioshpere. This diverse terrain offers a plethora of scenic spots including cascading waterfalls, pristine jungles, serpantine rivers and many historic places. Three winding roads mostly through lush greeen forests connect the highlands to plains. The special quality of the terrains acidic soil and rainfall make it a bounty of spices, speccially Pepper. Tribes like Adiyas, Paniyas and Kurichians toiled with nature to offer the world the best spices.
Edakkal Caves are famous for it's cave drawings which belongs the new stone age..about 10000 yrs back!!!!!!Ship Building in Beypore The old world charm of this ancient ship building centre near Calicut in north Kerala is enchanting. Here, the time stands still as the specialist craftsmen design and shape "Uru"s (traditional vessels). During the heydays of Beypore, the fame of Urus had spread far and wide and Arabs made a bee line to this coastal town. Khalasis, who are the traditional shipbuilders here, are amazing with their ship building knowledge and craft. The client, often an Arab, gives the specifications and his needs. No design is drawn, and the plan of the Uru is conceptualised wholly in the mind of the master craftsmen. And log by log, each component comes together like a giant jig-saw puzzle and the final product is truly breathtaking. And to think that nothing was planned on paper, but the whole designing and intricate measurements and calculations were done entirely in the mind is truly astounding. A fledging wood industry thrived in Beypore ship building activity. Now, past its prime, the wood industry is just a shadow of its former self. Still huge logs can be found floating down the river and is reminiscent of its glorious past. |
Spice Trade The tropical monsoon climate and fertile soils of the coastal plain favour spice farming in Kerala. Of the huge variety of plants in the natural forest ecosystem produced by such conditions, there are many that have leaves, fruit, bark and roots with distinctive aromas and flavours. A proportion of these provides wonderful tastes to foods and has been known to people in this part of the world for thousands of years. There are ancient records indicating that King Solomon valued spices from the area. There are also links with the Ancient Greek empire that can be found in the writings of their time too. The Greeks evidently had a taste for spices in their cooking and the Greek historian, Heroditus, refers to the spice trade with Kerala in about 500 BC. Kochi is a centre for the spice trade in Kerala. Although the spice farms spread across much of the state there is some production as close as Vypin Island where spice production occurs in small farms.
The farmers themselves carry out the first stages in production, for example, cinnamon bark is stripped from trees and dried, packed and then sold via an agent before being sent to a factory for sorting and any further processing. In all likelihood the factory could be in Mattancherry, which is Kochi’s ancient spice centre. After processing it may be stored in a warehouse in huge quantities.
There are several routes from here via smaller warehouses and shops to the local people but some will be shipped to ports all round the world. The spices sold in your local supermarket and those added to your food in the local Indian restaurant may well have followed this route.
All kinds of people will have been involved in the trade from the farmer onwards. Apart from the agents, there will have been local labourers lifting, carrying, loading etc. Women tend to do the tedious job of sorting and grading. Other dealers ensure that goods are sold and then shippers carry the goods before another whole chain of people handle the spices in the receiving country before we finally consume them. Those at the beginning of the chain tend to receive very small amounts of money for their work and they often tend to suffer most if world prices fall.
Who makes the real money in the spice trade?
Indian spice farmer 1%
Indian agent 2%
Indian trader 4%
Indian exporter 7%
Shipper 40%
UK importer 10%
UK wholesaler 10%
Supermarket in the UK 26%b
( According to the studies conducted by BBC)
If you really want to learn more about the spices this link will help you.
spices of india |
Some more history.... The city of Cochin (today: Ernakulam) was, from the 24 December 1500 when the first Portuguese fleet called on its port, a firm ally of the Portuguese.
The admiral of this fleet was Pedro Alvares Cabral (the discoverer of Brasil). The Rajah (king) of Cochin allowed that a "feitoria" (factory) be allocated to the Portuguese and upon Cabral’s departure he allowed that thirty Portuguese and four Franciscan friars stayed in Cochin.
In 1502 a new expedition under the command of Vasco da Gama arrived at Cochin, and the friendship with the Rajah of Cochin was renewed. After the departure of Vasco da Gama, the Zamorin of Calicut, enemy of the Portuguese, attacked Cochin and destroyed the Portuguese "feitoria". The Rajah of Cochin and his Portuguese allies were forced to withdraw to the island of Vypin. Here, they were reinforced by three ships under Francisco de Albuquerque’s leadership and, some days later by Duarte Pacheco Pereira (the author of "Esmeraldo de situ orbis") an the Calicut troops immediately abandoned the siege.
In 27 September of 1503 the foundations of a timber fortress were laid. This was the first fortress erected by the Portuguese in India. At the departure of the Portuguese fleet to Portugal, Duarte Pacheco Pereira with three ships and 100 men were left in Cochin for assistance to the Rajah. Meanwhile, the Zamorin of Calicut formed a force of 50.000 men and 280 ships to drive the Portuguese out of Cochin. Duarte Pacheco Pereira was in command of only 100 Portuguese, 300 Malabar troops and about 5.000 soldiers of the King of Cochin (and the majority of these deserted). Pereira was a formidable commander. For five months, he and his men were able to sustain and drive back all the Zamorin’s assaults. He saved Portugal from being driven out of India. After this victory, Pereira returned to Portugal, and the King paid him the highest honours. However, subsequently he was to be imprisoned on charges, which were afterwards proven to be false. Later, he became Governor of the castle of São Jorge da Mina (1519-1522) in the Gold Coast. He ended his days in obscure poverty.
In 1505, a stone fortress replaced the wooden fortress of Cochin. The first church of Cochin was that of São Bartolomeu built in 1504. In 1506, the construction of Santa Cruz church (which gave its name to the Portuguese town) was initiated.
A parish church called Madre de Deus was laid in 1510. In 1550, the Jesuits added a large three storied college to the church.
For a better defence of the town, a fort called "Castelo de Cima" was built on Vypeen island at Paliport.
In 1510, Afonso de Albuquerque started a school (a Portuguese "casado" Afonso Alvares was the teacher) but after his death it closed down. However, the Franciscans started a new school in 1520. They built a friary (Santo Antonio) (1518-1520), a seminary and the beautiful church dedicated to São Francisco de Assis (1516-1522). Vasco da Gama was originally buried in it on Christmas eve of 1524. The floor of this church was paved with tombstones, which, in 1887, were removed and fixed its walls, where there are still today. This church is a living historical monument of today’s Cochin.
The last governor of Portuguese Cochin was Inácio Sarmento. About four thousand people, so was said, were the banished. |
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 Comments for Justin_goa | | | | |
ushar Fri Nov 28, 2008 08:18 UTC
Hi Justin.... thanks for your comments in my HP.. Yes i am in tvm now | Manara Thu Nov 27, 2008 17:23 UTC
Thank you for your message! | lynnehamman Thu Nov 27, 2008 14:17 UTC
What a wonderful history of the Malabar Coast and Pepper. It is the one spice I cannot imagine living without. I hope one day to get to see Malabar for myself. | Stephanie Tue Nov 25, 2008 03:55 UTC
Greetings from California. I love your picture of the boats. |
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