Your First Kerala Spice Order: What to Buy and How Much

If you're about to buy Kerala spices online for the first time, start small and start whole: green cardamom, black pepper and cloves, in the smallest pack size that covers two to three months of your cooking. These three show the biggest difference between fresh farm spice and old shop stock, and they're the backbone of most Indian kitchens. Add the rest later, once you know how fast you actually use them.

We get this question a lot on WhatsApp: "It's my first order, what should I get?" This is the answer we give, written down properly.

What should you buy in your first Kerala spice order?

Think of it in three rings. The inner ring is what you'll use every week. The outer rings are nice to have.

Ring one: the three that matter most

• Green cardamom (elakka). Chai, payasam, biryani, sweets. Freshness shows straight away in the smell.
• Black pepper (kurumulak). Used almost daily. Fresh Kerala pepper has a bite and a citrus note that old pepper loses.
• Cloves (grampoo). Small amounts, but in a lot of dishes. Fresh ones leave a little oil on your fingers.

Ring two: add if you cook these dishes often

• Cinnamon. For biryani, meat curries and appam stew. Decide between Ceylon and cassia first.
• White pepper. For soups, white sauces and light-coloured dishes.
• Star anise. For biryani and some meat masalas. Not grown in Kerala, but used a lot here.

Ring three: later

Nutmeg, mace, dry ginger and turmeric. Useful, but most people use them slowly. If you're not sure what each one is for, our Kerala spices list explains them one by one.

How much should you order?

This is where most first orders go wrong. Big packs look like value, but whole spices slowly lose aroma once the pack is open. A pack you finish while it still smells good beats a bigger one that goes flat.

These are starting points, not rules. After your first order, notice how long each pack lasts. That tells you your real size for next time.

Five steps for a smooth first order

1. Buy whole, not powder. Whole pods, peppercorns and cloves keep their smell far longer. Grind a little at a time in a mixie.
2. Check the district. A good listing tells you where it's grown, and says more than "Kerala". Ours say Idukki.
3. Look at the pack size and cost per gram together. Compare like with like, 100 g to 100 g.
4. Get jars ready. Airtight glass or steel, away from the stove. Our post on how to store spices covers the details.
5. Ask before you pay. A seller close to the farm will answer a simple question about harvest or drying quickly.

The Kerala spices online buying guide goes deeper into what to check with any seller.

What to do when the parcel arrives

Open it the same day. Crush one cardamom pod between your fingers: the smell should come at you straight away, and the seeds inside should be dark and a little sticky. Chew one peppercorn: it should be hot and clean, not dusty. Press a clove with your nail: you should see a little oil.

Then move everything into jars, label them with the month, and keep them in a cool cupboard.

A simple first order from us

If you'd like to keep it easy, the Kerala spice combo pack has cloves, pepper and cardamom together, so you can try all three from Idukki at once. If you already know you want more of one, our Kerala cardamom comes in 50 g, 100 g and 200 g, and the black pepper is whole, straight from the same hills. Everything is packed whole with nothing added, in resealable pouches. Delivery usually takes 4 to 5 working days across India, and shipping is free above ₹649.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum I should order for a first try?

One small pack each of cardamom, black pepper and cloves is plenty to judge quality. That's enough to use in chai, a curry and a biryani. If you like them, order bigger next time.

How long will whole spices last?

Kept airtight, dry and away from heat, whole cardamom, pepper and cloves hold their aroma for many months. They don't spoil suddenly, they just fade slowly. Buying sizes you'll finish in two to three months keeps them at their best.

Do you deliver outside India?

Not at the moment. We deliver across India only, usually in 4 to 5 working days. Shipping is free on orders above ₹649.

Still unsure what to put in the cart? Tell us what you cook on WhatsApp at +91 88482 65849 and we'll suggest a first order that fits.