Spices of Coban
The highland city of Guatemala's Alta Verapaz, the heart of the world's largest cardamom crop.
Traded and grown here
Best time: November to February, in the harvest.
Cardamom came to Guatemala in the early twentieth century and the cool, wet highlands of Alta Verapaz proved ideal. Guatemala has become one of the world's leading cardamom producers, and the spice is mostly exported to the Middle East and India.
Spices and trade
Cardamom grows in shade on small farms, mostly worked by Q'eqchi' Maya families. Pods are hand-picked, dried and graded. Cobán is also known for coffee, tea and the Rabin Ajau festival.
The place and its people
The Q'eqchi' language and traditions remain strong. Kak'ik, a spicy turkey soup, is a local dish.
Visiting
The Semuc Champey pools and the cloud forests are nearby. Cardamom farms may be visited with local guides.
A trail idea for Coban
- A cardamom farm See pods picked and dried.
- Coban market Browse local produce.
- Semuc Champey Visit the river pools.
- A kak'ik meal Taste the local soup.
Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Coban, Guatemala" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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