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Cooking & Spices
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Pureleven spice journal
Spice Names in Malayalam and English
Answer-first guidance with a faster path to farm-origin Kerala products you can buy today.
Quick Summary
A reference table of common spices in English, Malayalam (script and transliteration) and Hindi, plus Kerala ingredients that are hard to translate.
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This table gives the Malayalam name (in script and in English letters) and the Hindi name for the spices used most in Indian cooking. For example, cardamom is elakka (ഏലക്ക) in Malayalam and elaichi (इलायची) in Hindi, black pepper is kurumulaku (കുരുമുളക്) and kali mirch, and cloves are grampu (ഗ്രാമ്പൂ) and laung.
English spellings of Malayalam words vary a lot (elakka, elakkai, elaykka), so if a shop doesn't recognise one spelling, show them the Malayalam script instead.
Whole spices
| English | Malayalam (script) | Malayalam (transliteration) | Hindi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green cardamom | ഏലക്ക / ഏലം | Elakka / Elam | Elaichi (इलायची) |
| Black pepper | കുരുമുളക് | Kurumulaku | Kali mirch (काली मिर्च) |
| White pepper | വെളുത്ത കുരുമുളക് | Velutha kurumulaku | Safed mirch (सफ़ेद मिर्च) |
| Cloves | ഗ്രാമ്പൂ | Grampu | Laung (लौंग) |
| Cinnamon / cassia | കറുവപ്പട്ട | Karuvappatta | Dalchini (दालचीनी) |
| Star anise | തക്കോലം | Thakkolam | Chakra phool (चक्र फूल) |
| Nutmeg | ജാതിക്ക | Jathikka | Jaiphal (जायफल) |
| Mace | ജാതിപത്രി | Jathipathri | Javitri (जावित्री) |
| Indian bay leaf | കറുവയില | Karuvayila | Tej patta (तेज पत्ता) |
Note that karuvappatta and dalchini are used for both true (Ceylon) cinnamon and cassia in everyday speech, so check which one a recipe or shop means.
Seeds
| English | Malayalam (script) | Malayalam (transliteration) | Hindi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fennel seeds | പെരുംജീരകം | Perumjeerakam | Saunf (सौंफ) |
| Cumin seeds | ജീരകം | Jeerakam | Jeera (जीरा) |
| Coriander seeds | മല്ലി | Malli | Dhaniya (धनिया) |
| Fenugreek seeds | ഉലുവ | Uluva | Methi dana (मेथी दाना) |
| Mustard seeds | കടുക് | Kaduku | Rai (राई) |
| Sesame seeds | എള്ള് | Ellu | Til (तिल) |
| Carom seeds | അയമോദകം | Ayamodakam | Ajwain (अजवाइन) |
| Nigella seeds | കരിഞ്ചീരകം | Karinjeerakam | Kalonji (कलौंजी) |
| Poppy seeds | കസ്കസ് | Kaskas | Khas khas (खसखस) |
Roots, leaves and other ingredients
| English | Malayalam (script) | Malayalam (transliteration) | Hindi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turmeric | മഞ്ഞൾ | Manjal | Haldi (हल्दी) |
| Ginger | ഇഞ്ചി | Inji | Adrak (अदरक) |
| Dry ginger | ചുക്ക് | Chukku | Saunth (सोंठ) |
| Garlic | വെളുത്തുള്ളി | Veluthulli | Lahsun (लहसुन) |
| Asafoetida | കായം | Kayam | Hing (हींग) |
| Dried red chilli | ഉണക്കമുളക് | Unakka mulaku | Sukhi lal mirch (सूखी लाल मिर्च) |
| Curry leaves | കറിവേപ്പില | Kariveppila | Kari patta (करी पत्ता) |
| Tamarind | വാളൻപുളി / പുളി | Valanpuli / Puli | Imli (इमली) |
| Saffron | കുങ്കുമപ്പൂവ് | Kunkumappoovu | Kesar (केसर) |
Kerala ingredients with no easy translation
- Kudampuli (കുടംപുളി): Malabar tamarind, the smoked, dried rind of Garcinia gummi-gutta, used to sour fish curry. It isn't the same as ordinary tamarind, and it's also different from kokum (Garcinia indica), which is used more on the Konkan coast. There's no common Hindi name for it.
- Karippetti (കരിപ്പെട്ടി): palm jaggery, darker and earthier than cane jaggery.
- Thenga kothu (തേങ്ങാക്കൊത്ത്): small slivers of coconut, fried golden for beef fry, pradhaman and similar dishes.
Tips for using this list
- In Kerala markets, the short forms are common: elam for cardamom, mulaku for pepper or chilli depending on context.
- Mulaku can mean either pepper or chilli. Kurumulaku is pepper. Pachamulaku is green chilli. Unakka mulaku is dried red chilli.
- When shopping online, search in both English and the local name, since sellers list products differently.
For more on the spices themselves, see our list of Kerala spices, and if you're visiting the hills, our post on what to buy in Munnar. The three spices most Kerala recipes start with, elakka, kurumulaku and grampu, come together in our Kerala spice combo.
Sources
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