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EveryMasala

Spices of Munnar

A high hill station in Kerala best known for tea, with cardamom and other spices grown on the slopes nearby.

Munnar

Traded and grown here

CardamomBlack pepperCinnamomum verum

Best time: September to March.

Munnar lies at about 1,500 metres in the Western Ghats. Tea plantations cover many of its hills, and cardamom, pepper and other spices are grown in the surrounding valleys.

View over Munnar town from North East (see geotag location)
Photo: Kondephy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spices and trade

Cardamom estates sit below the tea slopes, and spice farms around Munnar grow cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and cloves. Spice shops in the town sell whole spices, teas and homemade products.

The place and its people

The plantation landscape dates to the nineteenth century and is shaped by tea companies and workers' settlements. The cool climate makes it a popular hill retreat.

Visiting

Tea museums, plantation walks and spice farms are all available. Mist is common in the monsoon, so the drier months are better for views.

A trail idea for Munnar

  1. A tea plantation walk Start in the green hills.
  2. A spice garden See cardamom, pepper and clove growing.
  3. Town market Buy cardamom and tea.
  4. Eravikulam National Park Look for the high grassland and its wildlife.
About this page

Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Munnar" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.

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